An extract from berries of Aronia melanocarpa modulates the generation of superoxide anion radicals in blood platelets from breast cancer patients.

Plant antioxidants protect cells against oxidative stress. Because oxidative stress (measured by different biomarkers) is observed in breast cancer patients, the aim of this study was to establish the effects of a polyphenol-rich extract of Aronia melanocarpa (final concentration of 50 microg/mL, 5 min, 37 degrees C) on superoxide anion radicals (O(2)(-)) and glutathione (GSH) in platelets from patients with breast cancer and in a healthy group in vitro. Generation of O(2)(-) in platelets before and after incubation with the extract was measured by cytochrome C reduction. Using HPLC, we determined the level of glutathione in blood platelets. We observed a statistically significant increase of biomarkers of oxidative stress such as O(2)(-) and a decrease in GSH in platelets from patients with breast cancer compared with the healthy group. We showed that the extract from A. melanocarpa added to blood platelets significantly reduced the production of O(2)(-) in platelets not only from the healthy group but also from patients with breast cancer. Considering the data presented in this study, we have demonstrated the protective role of the extract from A. melanocarpa in patients with breast cancer in vitro.