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Published on: March 21, 2015
Light Quality Modulates the Antioxidant Properties of "Microtom" Fruits: A Pilot Study Testing the Radioprotective
Filippo Villano1, Valerio Cosimo Elia2,3, Ermenegilda Vitale4
1Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
Abstract:
The fruits of Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar "Microtom" are a powerful source of antioxidants. We investigated whether two light-quality regimes, i.e., fluorescent white (FL) and red-blue (RB), influenced the antioxidant composition in such fruits, and assessed the potential radioprotective properties of their extracts on normal human cells exposed to clinical photons as used in cancer radiotherapy (RT). Increasing normal-tissue tolerance to radiation is critical for reducing the risk of RT-associated sequelae. Biochemical characterization showed that RB enhanced the content of antioxidant phytochemicals (i.e., polyphenols, flavonoids, total carotenoids, lycopene), while FL promoted ascorbic acid synthesis. Initially tested at 200 µg/mL, RB-derived extracts decreased radiation-induced DNA damage as measured by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in epidermal HaCaT cells. Both RB and FL regimes were subsequently studied in MCF-10A breast cancer (BC) cells, a model of normal-tissue radioresponse in BC RT, using extracts at 100 and 200 µg/mL and also evaluating oxidative stress by a ROS detection assay. Both FL and RB afforded radioprotection. However, RB suppressed radiation-induced MN formation and oxidative stress to a greater extent compared to FL. Therefore, modulation of light-quality regimes represents an innovative approach for developing radionutraceuticals with potential benefits for RT patients.
Insights
Red-blue light enhances tomato antioxidants, offering potential radioprotection for cancer radiotherapy patients. These tomato extracts protected normal cells from radiation damage and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- The cultivar 'Microtom' of *Solanum lycopersicum* (tomato) is rich in antioxidants.
- Radiotherapy (RT) for cancer can cause normal tissue damage, necessitating strategies to increase tolerance.
- Light quality influences phytochemical composition in plants, potentially affecting antioxidant properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how fluorescent white (FL) and red-blue (RB) light affect antioxidant content in tomato fruits.
- To assess the radioprotective potential of tomato extracts against radiation-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress in normal human cells.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical analysis of antioxidant compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, lycopene, ascorbic acid) in tomato fruits grown under FL and RB light.
- Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay to measure DNA damage in HaCaT cells treated with RB extracts post-irradiation.
- ROS detection assay and CBMN assay in MCF-10A cells treated with FL and RB extracts post-irradiation.
Main Results:
- RB light increased polyphenols, flavonoids, total carotenoids, and lycopene, while FL light boosted ascorbic acid.
- RB extracts significantly reduced radiation-induced DNA damage in HaCaT cells.
- Both FL and RB extracts provided radioprotection to MCF-10A cells, with RB showing greater suppression of micronuclei formation and oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Light quality modulation is a viable strategy to enhance antioxidant phytochemicals in tomatoes.
- Tomato extracts, particularly from RB-grown plants, demonstrate significant radioprotective effects.
- This approach offers a novel pathway for developing radionutraceuticals to mitigate radiotherapy side effects in patients.
