A combination of alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C and N-acetyl cysteine increases unsaturated fatty acid levels in hydrogen peroxide-induced Candida tropicalis (ATCC 13803)

Abstract

This research was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant effects of combinations of alpha lipoic acid (LA), vitamin C (VC), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha-tocopherol (TOC) on lipid level and fatty acid composition of C. tropicalis (ATCC 13803) against hydrogen peroxide toxicity. According to the experimental results, the cell density of C. tropicalis increased significantly in NAC + LA + H2O2, NAC + TOC + H2O2 and NAC + VC + H2O2 groups (p < 0.001) at the end of 48 and 72 h incubation times. The total lipid level in H2O2 and H2O2 + antioxidant- supplemented groups was lower than that of the control group. In the fatty acid composition of C. tropicalis, the palmitic acid level was raised in the NAC group (p < 0.05), whereas its level was reduced in the other supplemented groups. While the oleic acid level increased in NAC + TOC + H2O2 and NAC + VC + H2O2 (p < 0.001) groups, its level slightly decreased in the H2O2 group. The linolenic acid level was low in all the supplemented groups, but linoleic acid and total mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels were high in these groups compared with the control group. Total polyunsaturated fatty acid level (PUFA) decreased in NAC and H2O2 groups (p < 0.01), but its level increased in NAC + LA + H2O2 and NAC + TOC + H2O2 groups (respectively, p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Total saturated fatty acid level decreased significantly in NAC + TOC + H2O2, NAC + H2O2 and NAC + VC + H2O2 (p < 0.001) groups (p < 0.01), whereas total unsaturated fatty acid level increased in NAC, NAC + H2O2, NAC + LA + H2O2, NAC + TOC + H2O2 and NAC + VC + H2O2 groups. In conclusion, our data showed that the levels of total unsaturated fatty acid, MUFA and PUFA were raised with the combinations of NAC and TOC, LA and VC in C. tropicalis cells subjected to hydrogen peroxide toxicity. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.