Mina Motallebnejad1, Shaghayegh Zahedpasha2, Ali Akbar Moghadamnia3,4, Sohrab Kazemi4, Daryoush Moslemi5, Mahdi Pouramir4,6, Fariba Asgharpour7. 1. Oral Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 2. Dental Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 3. Neuroscience Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 4. Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 6. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. 7. Dental Materials Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nowadays, radiotherapy is used effectively for the treatment of head and neck cancers. Mucositis is one of the most important side effects of radiotherapy. Radio-protective agents protect tissues and cells against the adverse effects due to ionizing radiation and cleave radiation-induced free radicals. Lycopene as a potent antioxidant protects cells against oxidative damage by free radical-scavenging. The present study investigated the antioxidant effect of lycopene on oral mucosa of irradiated rats. METHODS: In this experimental animal study, 28 rats were placed in four groups as follows: treated with 50 mg /kg of lycopene (L50), solvent+irradiation (SR), 25 mg / kg of lycopene+irradiation (LR25), and 50 mg / kg of lycopene+irradiation (LR50). The rats received lycopene intraperitoneally. On the irradiation day (day 0) and tenth day of radiation, blood samples were taken from the animals for FRAP and TBARS tests. RESULTS: The results showed that the LR50 group did not show mucositis higher than grade 2. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between SR and the L50 regarding the severity of mucositis. In addition, L50 showed higher antioxidant activity and lower peroxidation than SR. CONCLUSION: Lycopene reduced the severity of mucositis. Therefore, it can be used as a potential and promising nutritional substance to prevent radiotherapy complications, especially in the treatment of head and neck cancers. However, further research is necessary to confirm these results.
BACKGROUND: Nowadays, radiotherapy is used effectively for the treatment of head and neck cancers. Mucositis is one of the most important side effects of radiotherapy. Radio-protective agents protect tissues and cells against the adverse effects due to ionizing radiation and cleave radiation-induced free radicals. Lycopene as a potent antioxidant protects cells against oxidative damage by free radical-scavenging. The present study investigated the antioxidant effect of lycopene on oral mucosa of irradiated rats. METHODS: In this experimental animal study, 28 rats were placed in four groups as follows: treated with 50 mg /kg of lycopene (L50), solvent+irradiation (SR), 25 mg / kg of lycopene+irradiation (LR25), and 50 mg / kg of lycopene+irradiation (LR50). The rats received lycopene intraperitoneally. On the irradiation day (day 0) and tenth day of radiation, blood samples were taken from the animals for FRAP and TBARS tests. RESULTS: The results showed that the LR50 group did not show mucositis higher than grade 2. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between SR and the L50 regarding the severity of mucositis. In addition, L50 showed higher antioxidant activity and lower peroxidation than SR. CONCLUSION: Lycopene reduced the severity of mucositis. Therefore, it can be used as a potential and promising nutritional substance to prevent radiotherapy complications, especially in the treatment of head and neck cancers. However, further research is necessary to confirm these results.
Authors: Elena Obrador; Rosario Salvador-Palmer; Juan I Villaescusa; Eduardo Gallego; Blanca Pellicer; José M Estrela; Alegría Montoro Journal: Antioxidants (Basel) Date: 2022-05-31