Effect of ocimum flavonoids as a radioprotector on the erythrocyte antioxidants in oral cancer

K Reshma

V Ashalatha

M Dinesh

Dm Vasudevan

Abstract

Flavonoids extracted from the leaves of Indian holy basil, Ocimum sanctum showed promising results as radioprotector in rodents. Hence it was thought pertinent to analyze the antioxidants of erythrocytes in oral cancer patients who were concurrently treated with radiation and ocimum flavonoids. Oral cancer patients consisted of 2 groups. Group A (n=17) received radiation alone while Group B(n=17) received radiation and ocimum flavonoids(OF). Samples of heparinised blood were collected prior to treatment, 15 and 30 days respectively after treatment. Blood from normal healthy volunteers were taken as controls (n=25). Erythrocytes were analyzed for the antioxidants viz. glutathione, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase by the standard methods. Results of analysis indicated that erythrocytes from cancer patients (Group A and B) had significantly high glutathione levels before as well as after treatment compared to controls. It was observed that Group B which received OF showed a significant reduction in glutathione levels in comparison with Group A. All the other parameters showed no statistical significant changes. Results of the study suggest that erythrocytes from cancer patients responded to oxidative stress by elevating glutathione levels, while a decrease in glutathione levels observed in Group B, could be due to the free radical scavenging effect of OF, sparing the glutathione. However OF did not seem to exert its effect on other antioxidants of erythrocytes.

Keywords: Radiotherapy, Radioprotector, Ocimum flavonoids, antioxidants

Abstract

Keywords: Radiotherapy, Radioprotector, Ocimum flavonoids, antioxidants

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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^{Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, 575 004 Mangalore,}

^{Department of Biochemistry, Father Muller’s Medical College, Mangalore,}

^{Department of Oncology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Elamakkara, Cochin,}

^{Amritha Institute Of Medical Sciences, Elamakkara, Cochin,}

^{Corresponding author.}

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References

1. Frenkel KCarcinogen mediated oxidant formation and oxidative DNA damage. Pharmacol. Ther. 1992;53(1):127–66. doi: 10.1016/0163-7258(92)90047-4.] [[PubMed][Google Scholar]
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4. Sabitha KE, Shyamaladevi CS. (1999). Oxidant and antioxidant activity changes in patients with oral cancer and treated with radiotheraphy.Oral. Oncol. 35(3), 273- [[PubMed]
5. Uma Devi P, Nagarathnam A, Satish Rao BSIn: Introduction to Radiation Biology 2000, 136.
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7. Ganasoundari A, Uma Devi P, Rao MNAProtection against radiation-induced chromosome damage in mouse bone marrow by ocimum sanctum. Mutat. Res. 1997;373:271–6.[PubMed][Google Scholar]
8. Karnofsky DA, Abelman Wh, Gaver IF, etal(1948)Cancer 1834–656.9)
9. Open MM, Greech RH, Tormy DC, et al Am. J. Clin. Oncol. 1982;5:649–655. doi: 10.1097/00000421-198212000-00014.] [[PubMed][Google Scholar]
10. Uma Devi P, Ganasoundari A, Rao BSS, Srinivasan KKInvivo radioprotection by ocimum flavonoids; Survival of mice. Radiat. Res. 1999;151:74–78. doi: 10.2307/3579750.] [[PubMed][Google Scholar]
11. Kartha VN, Krishnamurthy S (1978)Factors affecting invitro lipid peroxidation of rat brain homogenate.Ind. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2244–52. [[PubMed]
12. Beutler E, Duron O, Kelley BM. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 1963;61:882–882.[PubMed]
13. Paglia DE, Valentine WNStudies on the qualitative and quantitative characterization of glutathione peroxidase. J. Lab. clin. Med. 1967;70:158–158.[PubMed][Google Scholar]
14. Lawrence RA, Burk RFGlutathione peroxidase activity in selenium deficient rat liver. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1976;71:952–958. doi: 10.1016/0006-291X(76)90747-6.] [[PubMed][Google Scholar]
15. Sidney P. Colowick, Kaplan Nathan D. Methods in Enzymology. London: Acadamic Press, INC; 1984. pp. 364–364. [PubMed]
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18. Vorley H, Gowenlock AH, Bell M Practical Clinical Biochemistry. 5th edition. London: William Heinemann Medical Books Ltd; 1980. pp. 979–979. [PubMed][Google Scholar]
19. Wong DY, Tsiao YL, Poon CK, Kivan PC, et al Glutathione concentration in oral cancer tissues. Cancer lett. 1994;30.81(2):111–116. doi: 10.1016/0304-3835(94)90191-0.] [[PubMed][Google Scholar]
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21. Bhattathiri VN, Sreelekha TT, Sebestian P, et al Influence of plasma GSH level on acute radiation mucositis of the oral cavity. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 1994;29(2):383–6.[PubMed][Google Scholar]
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