ROLE OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE IN ANTITUMOR-ACTIVITY INDUCTION BY SODIUM 5,6-BENZYLIDENE-L-ASCORBATE

Role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the induction of antitumor activit y against chemically-induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma by sodium 5, 6-benzylidene-L-ascorbate (SBA) was investigated. ESR spectroscopy dem onstrated that rat liver homogenate of cancerous tissue significantly enhanced the radical intensity of SEA more potently than that of preca ncerous or normal tissue. The peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence method d emonstrated that SEA significantly enhanced the production of H2O2-der ived chemiluminescence intensity in. the liver homogenates, and the ef fect of SEA was greater in cancerous tissue than in precancerous or no rmal tissue. Addition of ascorbic acid, a degradation product of SBR s howed similar but slightly weaker stimulation effects. These data sugg est that antitumor activity of SEA in vivo might, at least in part, be due to H2O2 production.