G-2667

Protective Effects of Rhus coriaria and Lactobacillus acidophilus Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in AGS Gastric Cancer Cells

 Fatemeh Bastan ¹ ℗, Reyhaneh Farjadi Kia ¹, Mahboobeh Mehrabani Natanzi ² ©, Maryam Rashidian ¹, Zohreh Khodaii ³   

 
Abstract

Introduction: Oxidative stress is a critical factor in the development and progression of cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), can cause DNA damage, genomic instability, and apoptosis dysregulation. Cancer cells, including gastric cancer cells, often exist in a state of chronic oxidative imbalance. Identifying natural compounds capable of modulating oxidative damage is of increasing therapeutic interest. This study explores the protective and antioxidant roles of Rhus coriaria (sumac) and Lactobacillus acidophilus in AGS gastric cancer cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂. Methods and Materials: AGS cells were cultured and pre-exposed to 200 µM H₂O₂ to simulate oxidative stress. Cells were subsequently treated with aqueous extract of Rhus coriaria and ethyl acetate extract of Lactobacillus acidophilus at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/ml, individually and in combination. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay after 24 hours. Apoptosis rates were evaluated using Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry at IC50 concentrations. Morphological changes and ROS reduction were also observed using microscopy and ROS-sensitive fluorometric probes. Results: H₂O₂ exposure alone significantly decreased cell viability and increased apoptotic rates (apoptosis: 37.4%). Treatment with either Rhus coriaria or L. acidophilus improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of both agents resulted in the most substantial protective effect, restoring viability by nearly 2-fold compared to H₂O₂-only treated cells and reducing apoptosis to 15.3% (p 0.0001). Microscopic observations confirmed improved cellular integrity in co-treated groups. Conclusion and Discussion: The data support that Rhus coriaria and Lactobacillus acidophilus possess antioxidative properties capable of mitigating oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity. Their combination appears to enhance cellular resilience, possibly through synergistic scavenging of ROS, stabilization of mitochondrial membranes, and modulation of apoptotic pathways. This study demonstrates that both Rhus coriaria and Lactobacillus acidophilus can significantly protect gastric cancer cells from H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. Their combined use may represent a novel antioxidant-based adjunctive strategy for reducing treatment-induced or environmentally triggered oxidative damage in cancer cells.

Keywords: Rhus coriaria, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Oxidative stress, Hydrogen peroxide, Antioxidant therapy,