Nonenzymatic Evaluation of Antioxidant and Lipid Peroxidation Level in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Juice of Wheat Grass during Treatment

Abstract

For breast cancer, chemotherapy is the most common treatment in the world. In breast cancer patients, oxidative stress leads to accumulation of free radicals, which generate more oxidative stress during chemotherapy. This chemotherapeutic approach also leads to enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species and increased oxidative stress as a result. Blood samples were collected from 30 subjects (15 patients who received wheat grass juice (WGJ) and 15 patients who were only on chemotherapy) in the age range 25-60. The goal of the present investigation was to study the relationship between oxidative stress and breast cancer by measuring the non-enzymatic antioxidant levels of Glutathione reductase (GSH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), which are the markers of lipid peroxidation in breast cancer patients and effect of wheat grass juice on these markers. From the results obtained, it was clear that MDA levels were higher whereas GSH levels decreased in breast cancer patients compared with normal controls. Significant changes in the MDA and GSH values were observed between the group receiving WGJ and the group receiving only chemotherapy. The administration of WGJ along with the treatment reduces the extent of oxidative damage and related complications in breast cancer patients.