Comparison of the Cytotoxicity of Different Hydroperoxides to V79 Cells

Abstract

We compared the cytotoxicty of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and methyl linoleate hydroperoxide (MLHP) to V79 cells, using a colony formation assay. In all cases L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulphoximine enhanced the cytotoxicity, and Quin 2 inhibited it. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and o-phenanthroline suppressed the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂ and t-BHP, but they had no effect on the cytotoxicity of MLHP. These results suggest that the biological effects of t-BHP are similar to those of H₂O₂ and not to those of lipid hydroperoxides. In the course of the experiments, we found that NDGA, an antioxidant and food additive, was a potent inhibitor of cytotoxicity of H₂O₂.

Key Words:

• Hydroperoxide
• hydrogen peroxide
• t-butylhydroperoxide
• lipid hydroperoxide
• cytotoxicity