Abstract
Antineoplastic agents due to their cytotoxic effects increase the amount of free radical in cells causing cell death. The aims of this study were to assess the possible toxic effects of Bleomycin (BLM) on the number of offspring and survival rate of fruit flies as well as the protective role of Berberis crataegina DC. fruit extracts (BCE) on these effects. Solutions prepared in different concentrations (0.125 mg/mL for BLM; 10 and 20 mg/mL for BCE) were applied to the adult fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster ’s wild-type individuals and 72 ± 4 h larvae to determine the number of offspring and survival rate, respectively. As a result, the higher number of offspring and survival rate in the BCE + BLM applied groups than the only BLM applied groups shows that BCE is an antioxidant and has a protective effect (p< 0.05). This protective effect can be explained as the prevention or removal of the free radicals formation from the environment.
Highlights
It has been determined that Berberis species are effective bioactive phytochemical sources due to their high content of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins (Yıldız et al, 2014). From this point of view, in this study, we have investigated the therapeutic roles of B. crataegina, a wild plant used for nutrition and therapeutic purposes, against the possible toxic effects of Bleomycin, one of the antibiotics used in chemotherapy, by survival rate and a number of offspring experiments in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
In female individuals treated with BLM, the number of offspring decreased compared to the control, whereas in the individuals treated with BLM + Berberis crataegina DC. fruit extracts (BCE), the number of
According to the results obtained, the survival rate in the larvae treated with BLM decreased compared to the control, while the percentage of survival in the larvae treated with BLM + BCE was close to control (Table II)
Summary
Cancer is a genetic disorder caused by the alteration of a normal DNA cell due to exposure to physical, chemicals or biological agents (Van Zanden et al, 2005). About 7.6 million people lose their lives from cancer each year. Alternative methods have been developed in the treatment of cancer, but radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy have been used in general (Konishi et al, 2003). The most common cancer treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of cancer affect tumor cells and prevent growth and proliferation of cells. These drugs affect normal cells in the body, leading to various side effects. Chemotherapy drugs known as antineoplastic agents are chemical sources of free radicals (Deavall et al, 2012)
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