N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is the most abundant water-soluble component of garlic. No study to date has studied the
leukemia prevention ability of NAC in mouse systemic
leukemia model. The current study aimed to investigate the
leukemia initiation prevention potential of NAC in a mouse model. The cytotoxic concentration of NAC was determined first in HL-60 cells, and its in vivo activity was studied in a mouse
acute myelocytic leukemia model with WEHI-3
leukemia cells. The results showed that a non-toxic concentration of NAC efficiently scavenged
free-radicals, lowered lipid peroxidation and reduced DNA damage induced by
hydrogen peroxide in a cultured HL-60
leukemia cell line. NAC also elevated the cellular
antioxidant enzyme activity significantly. Furthermore, NAC prevented mouse death induced by injection of murine WEHI-3
leukemia cells and reduced organ damage, as well as activated
antioxidant mechanisms. The results of this study provided strong evidence that NAC may have potential benefits in terms of elevating
antioxidant activity and preventing
leukemia initiation.