PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID AGAINST OXIDATIVE DAMAGE INDUCED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN CULTURED HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES

Hydrogen peroxide is one of the reactive oxygen species for cellular injury. It is overproduced during oxidative stress and is known to damage proteins, nucleic acids and cell membranes. The present study was aimed to study the protective effect of ascorbic acid against the toxic doses of hydrogen peroxide using lipid peroxidation and cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay. Hydrogen peroxide was studied at 50, 100 and 200 mu M and was found to increase a dose dependent increase in lipid peroxidation and micronuclei frequency. The treatment of 100 and 200 mu M of hydrogen peroxide separately along with 20, 40 and 80 mu M of ascorbic acid showed a dose dependent decrease in the lipid peroxidation and micronuclei frequency. The results suggest a protective effect of ascorbic acid against the hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damage in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes.