Abstract
Plant-based polyphenolic compounds are present in various dietary sources and considered to possess antioxidant activity. Gallic acid (GA) is one particularly important polyphenol. Studies have reported that GA is cytotoxic to cancer cells while normal cells remain unaffected by such action. We suggested a mechanism that suggests the preferential killing of GA against cancer cell. Using Comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis) and Fox assay (ferrous oxidation xylenol), it has been shown that GA behaves as prooxidant and causes DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Moreover, such DNA damage is stopped in the presence of copper chelator in cell validating the role of copper in the prooxidant DNA breakage by GA. Also, human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) growth is interrupted by GA resulting killing of cell in prooxidant manner. It is an established fact; copper levels are well elevated in different types of cancers. Consequently, cancer cells are subjected to transfer of electron between GA to produce ROS. Thus, we explain the cytotoxicity of GA towards malignant cells is because of elevated copper levels. In addition, our studies identify that nuclear copper can be responsible as a completely new target for cytotoxic behavior of GA as well as other polyphenolic compounds, which have strong potential against cancer as therapeutic agent.
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Farhan, M., Aatif, M., Hadi, S.M., Ahmad, A. (2021). Mechanism of Gallic Acid Anticancer Activity Through Copper Mediated Cell Death. In: Chakraborti, S., Ray, B.K., Roychowdhury, S. (eds) Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Mechanistic Aspects. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4501-6_179-1
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