Effect of Antioxidants on Level of Catalase and Glutathione in Oral Cancer Patients

Abstract

The present study reveals certain aspects of free radicals and antioxidants in the oral cancer patients. The production of free radicals is of course through tobacco chewing, smoking and other similar practices in the population. The body tries its best to come back the effect created by free radicals and in certain cases to be the genesis of free radicals, inhibited by the antioxidants. This study will add to the knowledge about origin and spread of oral cancer and its possible therapy by antioxidant, which may help the human population tremendously. Catalase (CAT) is present in all major body organs, being especially concentrated in the erythrocytes at the subcellular level. CAT is found mostly in peroxisomes (80%) and also in cytosol(20%). The gene coding human CAT is found on chromosomes. Catalase enzymes are responsible for the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Glutathione is found in vivo as GSH, rather than GSSG, but up to 1/3^rdof the total cellular glutathione may be present as mixed disulphides with other compounds that contains-SHgroup, such as cysteine, coenzyme A and the –SH of cysteine residues of several proteins. Glutathioneperoxidase catalyses the oxidations of GSH to GSSG at the expense of hydrogen peroxide.