Prooxidant DNA breakage induced by caffeic acid in human peripheral lymphocytes: Involvement of endogenous copper and a putative mechanism for anticancer properties

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2006.11.022· OSTI ID:20976858

Bhat, S H ^[1]; Azmi, A S ^[1]; Hadi, S M ^[1]

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1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, A.M.U., Aligarh 202002 (U.P.) (India)

Plant-derived dietary material contains several classes of polyphenols such as flavonoids, curcuminoids, stilbenes and hydroxycinnamic acids. They are recognized as naturally occurring antioxidants but also act as prooxidants catalyzing cellular DNA degradation in the presence of transition metal ions such as copper. Earlier we have shown that the stilbene resveratrol is able to mobilize endogenous copper ions leading to oxidative breakage of cellular DNA. In this paper, we show that caffeic acid (a hydroxycinnamic acid), which is a major constituent of coffee, is also capable of DNA breakage in human peripheral lymphocytes. Incubation of lymphocytes with neocuproine inhibited the DNA degradation confirming that Cu(I) is an intermediate in the DNA cleavage reaction. Further, we have also shown that caffeic acid generates oxidative stress in lymphocytes, which is inhibited by scavengers of reactive oxygen species and neocuproine. These results are in further support of our hypothesis that anticancer mechanism of plant polyphenols involves mobilization of endogenous copper, possibly chromatin bound copper, and the consequent prooxidant action.

• OSTI ID: 20976858
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 218; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANTIOXIDANTS
BEVERAGES
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHROMATIN
CLEAVAGE
COMETS
COPPER
COPPER IONS
DNA
FLAVONOIDS
LYMPHOCYTES
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
POLYPHENOLS
STILBENE