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Antioxidants & Apoptosis

Apr 11, 2011 | By Allen Bethea

Apoptosis is the process in which specific cells of a multi-cellular organism die in a non-traumatic, deliberate, pre-programmed and orderly fashion. The death of the cell happens not by accident, but intentionally for the health and development of the entire organism. Sometimes things go wrong. Apoptosis programming may be unnecessarily triggered by toxins, which damage a cell's DNA or mitochondria. Viruses, such as HIV, may trigger apoptosis in targeted cells. On the other hand, apoptosis may be hindered at the time when the body needs it to happen to stop the growth of cancer.

Oxidation Can Trigger Apoptosis

Increased rates of oxidation within a cell often lead to DNA damage. Affected cells will in turn produce the protein p53, which initiates an apoptosis pathway that stops cell division. Nature uses the p53-induced form of apoptosis to stop tumor growth. Ultraviolet light, x-rays, chemotherapeutic drugs and toxins can all cause more oxidation reactions to occur within cells. Even normal cell biochemical processes will produce the oxidative substances known as free radicals. Free radicals and other oxidizers may also cause damage to the cell's mitochondria and trigger yet another apoptosis pathway.

Ginseng's Antioxidant Effect on Apoptosis

Scientists are actively studying the effect of antioxidants on apoptosis. A study by China Medical University researchers published in 2010 in "Molecular Medicine Reports," examines the effects of ginseng Rb1 on rat adrenal gland cells. The researchers treated the rat cells for 24 hours with ginsenoside -- the active ingredient in the herb, ginseng. They then exposed the cells to beta-amyloid, a naturally occurring substance known to stimulate oxidation reactions within normal cells. Cells pretreated with ginsenoside survived at higher rates than those without.

Melatonin

University of Extremadura, Spain scientists published a study in March 2011 in the "Journal of Pineal Research" indicating that melatonin's antioxidant properties inhibit and reverse oxidation-initiated apoptosis in human leukocytes. These findings help to explain how melatonin controls apoptosis in cells of immune/inflammatory relevance.

Lycopene and Lycopene Phytocomplexes

Lycopene is a vitamin-A like compound found in tomatoes, carrots, watermelons, papayas and some other red-tinted fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant. Pennsylvania State University scientists published a study in 2005 in "Experimental Biology and Medicine," which examines the impact of lycopene on human prostate cancer cells. They found lycopene induced apoptosis in the cancer cells. While lycopene itself is an antioxidant, some of its metabolites are oxidizers, which stimulate natural apoptosis. In this instance, apoptosis is beneficial: it stops the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. A more recent study published in September 2010 in "Experimental Biology and Medicine" confirms the beneficial effect of lycopene on human prostate cancer cells. The researchers found that lycopene phytocomplex was more effective than pure lycopene. Lycopene phytocomplexes are combinations of all the substances in lycopene-containing plants, which are therapeutic.

References

Article reviewed by Mia Paul Last updated on: Apr 11, 2011

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