title: Effect of glutathione on arecanut treated normal human buccal fibroblast culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental studies have shown arecanut to be a cytotoxic substance with mutagenic and carcinogenic potential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of glutathione on arecanut treated human buccal fibroblast culture and its potential as a chemopreventive agent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fibroblast culture was done in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium MEM) supplemented with 10% Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) and antibiotic at 370C degrees in an atmosphere of 5% carbon di-oxide and 95% air. The fibroblast cells were subjected to different concentrations of aqueous extracts of raw and boiled arecanut. Fibroblasts were plated in two 24-well culture plates and in each plate, cells were dividt,ednto 2 groups; 600gg microml of reduced glutathione was added to the first group of cells; subsequently, aqueous extracts of raw and boiled arecanut at least and highest concentrations i.e., 20j. microml and 100lg microml were added to the first group of cells in the respective plates whereas the second group served as a control. The morphological alterations and cell survival were assayed at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Results Morphologically, the initial (10 hours) attached fibroblast cells were converted from spheroidal shape towards hexagonal and finally to a fully extended spindle shaped configuration. The three morphological types of fibroblasts at 48 hours were F-I, F-II and F-III. Aqueous extract of raw arecanut exhibited significant cytotoxicity (p < .0 001) at all time periods studied, when compared against the control values of untreated fibroblasts. Addition of reduced glutathione to cultures showed a significant (p < 0. 001) reduction in cytotoxicity, as indicated by higher optical density values and morphological reversion to the spindle-shaped configuration. Co
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of glutathione reduced the cytotoxic and morphological alterations of the fibroblasts treated with aqueous extracts of both raw and boiled arecanut.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai. saraswathitr@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Saraswathi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sheeba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nalinkumar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
mesh_terms: D001114:Areca / Q000737:chemistry; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D005978:Glutathione