An Overview of the Antioxidant Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Alpha Lipoic Acid (in Liposomal Forms) as Adjuvant in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Antioxidants are known to minimize oxidative stress by interacting with free radicals produced as a result of cell aerobic reactions. Oxidative stress has long been linked to many diseases, especially tumours. Therefore, antioxidants play a crucial role in the prevention or management of free radical-related diseases. However, most of these antioxidants have anticancer effects only if taken in large doses. Others show inadequate bioavailability due to their instability in the blood or having a hydrophilic nature that limits their permeation through the cell membrane. Therefore, entrapping antioxidants in liposomes may overcome these drawbacks as liposomes have the capability to accommodate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds with a considerable stability. Additionally, liposomes have the capability to accumulate at the cancer tissue passively, due to their small sizes, with enhanced drug delivery. Additionally, liposomes can be engineered with targeting moieties to increase the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to specific tumour cells with decreased accumulation in healthy tissues. Therefore, combined use of liposomes and antioxidants, with or without chemotherapeutic agents, is an attractive strategy to combat varies tumours. This mini review focuses on the liposomal delivery of selected antioxidants, namely ascorbic acid (AA) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). The contribution of these nanocarriers in enhancing the antioxidant effect of AA and ALA and consequently their anticancer potentials will be demonstrated.

Evaluation of Dissolution Profiles of a Newly Developed Solid Oral Immediate-Release Formula Containing Alpha-Lipoic Acid

“…ALA reduces chemotherapy side effects having a substantial role in potentiating and synergizing the cytotoxic effect of antineoplastic agents while protecting normal body tissue, increasing patient survivability [53]. ALA's anti-proliferative effect on tumor cells is due to the increased reduction in epidermal growth factor receptor expression ErbB2 and ErbB3 [54].…”

Role of Alpha Lipoic Acid in Ameliorating the Histological Alterations of Pituitary-Testicular Axis –induced by Hydrogen Peroxide in Rats

“…ALA works on the cellular level to help produce energy in the body, as a part as, a coenzyme in the citric acid cycle by preparing the fuel for the mitochondria, and plays a vital role in mitochondrial electron transport reactions required for cellular energy production (15). It has been reported that ALA have powerful antioxidant abilities, equal to that of coenzyme Q 10, vitamin C, and vitamin E (16). Unlike other antioxidants, ALA alpha lipoic acid has ability to neutralize free radicals in intracellular and extracellular environments (17).…”

Antitumor Activity and Mechanism of Robustic Acid from Dalbergia benthami Prain via Computational Target Fishing

“…The excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage cellular lipids, proteins or DNA. Oxidative imbalance has been implicated in a number of diseases, including cancers, atherosclerosis and heart diseases, as well as the ageing process [ 18 ]. The DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays have been widely accepted for estimating the free radical scavenging activities of antioxidants.…”