Vitamin C suppresses the cisplatin toxicity on blood platelets

The effects of vitamin C on the oxidative stress in blood platelets induced by cisplatin were studied. In the presence of vitamin C we measured in blood platelets the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the generation of superoxide radicals (O2*-), other reactive oxygen species (H2O2, singlet oxygen and organic radicals) and catalase activity. Vitamin C at a low concentration (0.1 mM), like cisplatin (20 microM), induced blood platelet oxidative stress: an increase of TBARS, chemiluminescence and generation of superoxide radicals. After treatment of blood platelets with vitamin C at a high concentration (3 mM), chemiluminescence (p>0.05), the levels of O2*- (p<0.01) and TBARS (p<0.002) were reduced. We have shown that vitamin C at a high concentration (3 mM) had a protective effect against oxidative stress in platelets caused by cisplatin (20 microM). It diminished platelet lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species generation induced by cisplatin. In the presence of vitamin C, the catalase activity was suppressed.