Evaluation of the protective effect of α-lipoic acid, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, curcumin and pomegranate extract against the harmful effects caused by docetaxel and carboplatin in the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

Breast cancer affects a great part of the female population worldwide. Antioxidants are being tested to help to minimize the side effects caused by chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate if an antioxidants mixture (Mix) (α-lipoic acid, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, curcumin) and pomegranate extract (POMx) can minimize some harmful effects caused by docetaxel and carboplatin, using alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. The nematodes were treated with POMx (5, 10, 20, 40 and 50 mg/mL) and Mix (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 doses) followed by docetaxel (0.2 and 0.1 mg/mL) and carboplatin (99.4 and 4.7 μg/mL). Mortality rate, body area and ROS production were evaluated. Paraquat (PQ) and Metil methanesulfonate (MMS) were used as positive damage controls as a prior assay. POMx did not help to reduce the mortality when comapared to PQ and MMS. Mix did not reduced mortality compared to PQ. Mix 2 doses helped to decrease mortality when compared to MMS, docetaxel and the lower dose of carboplatin tested. C. elegans body area was significantly reduced when treated with the harmful agents, Mix and POMx were not able to revert it. ROS production was noticed when added docetaxel and carboplatin and only Mix 2 reduced ROS in the higher dose of carboplatin tested. Worms that received Mix had a better outcome than the ones treated with POMx, probably because there was more than one antioxidant, since it lowered the mortality rate proving that the use of a combination of antioxidants is better than using only one.