Propyl gallate (PG) as a synthetic antioxidant is widely used in processed food and medicinal preparations. It also exerts a variety of effects on tissue and cell functions. In the present study, we investigated the effects of L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, an inhibitor of GSH synthesis), diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC, an inhibitor of Cu/Zn-SOD) or 3-amino-1,2,4-Triazole (AT, an inhibitor of catalase) on PG-treated HeLa cells in relation to cell growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH). Treatment with PG induced growth inhibition, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential [MMP (ΔΨm)] and apoptosis in HeLa cells. ROS levels including O2·− were increased or decreased in PG-treated HeLa cells depending on the incubation times. PG caused depletion in GSH content in HeLa cells. While BSO enhanced the growth inhibition of PG-treated HeLa cells at 4 h, DDC and AT did not. All the agents down-regulated MMP (ΔΨm) levels in PG-treated cells. Although BSO, DDC or AT slightly increased ROS or O2·− levels in PG-treated cells at 1 h, these enhancements of ROS did not intensify apoptosis in these cells. In addition, BSO, DDC or AT slightly reduced GSH level in PG-treated HeLa cells at 1 h, but this reduction did not affect cell death of HeLa. Furthermore, PG induced a G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle. BSO, DDC or AT significantly inhibited the G1 phase arrest in PG-treated cells. Conclusively, the changes of ROS and GSH levels by BSO, DDC or AT in PG-treated HeLa cells did not strongly affect the cell growth and death.

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