Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: BENITES and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 185
Abstract
BENITES and COLLEAGUES, Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Farmaceuticas, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile, Avenida Arturo Prat 2120, Casilla 121, Iquique, Chile tested 2-Euryfuryl-1,4-naphthoquinone C(1) and its 5- and 5,8-hydroxy derivatives C(2) and C(3) for their cytotoxicity towards transplantable liver tumour (TLT) cells in the absence and in the presence of vitamin C.
Background
2-Euryfuryl-1,4-naphthoquinone C(1) and its 5- and 5,8-hydroxy derivatives C(2) and C(3), were tested for their cytotoxicity towards transplantable liver tumor (TLT) cells (a murine hepatoma cell line) in the absence and in the presence of vitamin C.
Methodology
Cell death, caspase-3 activity and two metabolic end-points, namely the intracellular content of ATP and glutathione (GSH), were employed to evaluate their cytotoxicity.
Results
In a range of concentration from 0 to 10 microg/ml C(1) and C(3) were non toxic against TLT cells, while compound C(2) killed about 50% of cells by necrosis. Interestingly, the presence of vitamin C did not enhance the cytolysis of C(2), but its addition exacerbated the effects of the three compounds on both ATP and GSH contents, the two metabolic end points selected in our study. Our assumption is that the electron donor effect of the peri-hydroxyl substituents on euryfurylnaphthoquinones and the hydrogen bond between the peri-hydroxy and quinone carbonyl groups influence the electron-acceptor capability of the quinone nucleus and thus modifies the electron transfer from ascorbate to the electroactive quinone nucleus.
Conclusion
The combination of euryfurylnaphthoquinones with vitamin C may be of potential clinical interest, because cancer cells accumulate vitamin C, they are sensitive to an oxidant insult and they depend on glycolysis (ATP formation) for their survival.
References
Benites J, Valderrama JA, Taper H and Buc Calderon P. Part 2: influence of 2-euryfuryl-1,4-naphthoquinone and its peri-hydroxy derivatives on both cell death and metabolism of TLT cells, a murine hepatoma cell line. modulation of cytotoxicity by vitamin C. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 57(6): 615-9. Jun 2009.
