A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Light Quality Modulates the Antioxidant Properties of “Microtom” Fruits: A Pilot Study Testing the Radioprotective Effect on Human Cells




AuthorsVillano, Filippo; Elia, Valerio Cosimo; Vitale, Ermenegilda; d’Alesio, Valentina; Ametrano, Gianluca; Fede, Francesca; Formicola, Emilia; Georgakilas, Alexandros G.; Muto, Paolo; Serra, Marcello; Arena, Carmen; Manti, Lorenzo

PublisherMDPI AG

Publication year2026

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article number2184

Volume27

Issue5

ISSN1661-6596

eISSN1422-0067

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27052184

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27052184

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/516249675

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

The fruits of Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar “Microtom” are a powerful source of antioxidants. We investigated whether two light-quality regimes, i.e., fluorescent white (FL) and red-blue (RB), influenced the antioxidant composition in such fruits, and assessed the potential radioprotective properties of their extracts on normal human cells exposed to clinical photons as used in cancer radiotherapy (RT). Increasing normal-tissue tolerance to radiation is critical for reducing the risk of RT-associated sequelae. Biochemical characterization showed that RB enhanced the content of antioxidant phytochemicals (i.e., polyphenols, flavonoids, total carotenoids, lycopene), while FL promoted ascorbic acid synthesis. Initially tested at 200 µg/mL, RB-derived extracts decreased radiation-induced DNA damage as measured by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in epidermal HaCaT cells. Both RB and FL regimes were subsequently studied in MCF-10A breast cancer (BC) cells, a model of normal-tissue radioresponse in BC RT, using extracts at 100 and 200 µg/mL and also evaluating oxidative stress by a ROS detection assay. Both FL and RB afforded radioprotection. However, RB suppressed radiation-induced MN formation and oxidative stress to a greater extent compared to FL. Therefore, modulation of light-quality regimes represents an innovative approach for developing radionutraceuticals with potential benefits for RT patients.


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Funding information in the publication
This research received no external funding.


Last updated on 09/04/2026 09:50:05 AM