Poster Presenter

Lignin Antioxidants For Preventing DNA-Damage Of Mammalian Cells
Bozena Kosikova, Juraj Labaj and Vidia Jesenice
Czech Republic

As to possible negative effects of oil-based additives in polymers on human health and environment, lignin biopolymers isolated from wastes of pulp and paper industry were tested as stabilizers of DNA damage. The lignin samples exhibiting higher antioxidant activity than Trolox were tested as antioxidants for protection of DNA of human carcinoma cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. The obtained results confirm that lignin exhibits a high level of protection on DNA against damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. The antioxidative effect of lignin against MNNG-induced oxidative DNA damage was comparable with that of the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyanisole. The possible application of lignin as antioxidants to protect the organisms against the development of cancer was examined on lignin fed rats in ex vivo experiments. The hepatocytes and testicular cells isolated from the rats fed by diet containing 8% lignin exhibit higher resistance to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide in comparison with the rats fed by standard diet. Though to date the exact mechanism in which lignin biopolymer reduced genotoxic effect of chemical compounds is not known, there is substantial metabolic and experimental evidence to indicate that it belongs to the natural micronutrients which can decrease the risk of cancer development.