Olive leaf extract containing oleuropein modulates the cytotoxic effect of epirubicin on breast cancer cells depending on the cell line

Abstract

AbstractObjective:Epidemiologic studies showed that nutrition plays a role in incidence of cancer. However, little is known if nutrition also modulates the effect of chemotherapeutics. For this purpose, the present study investigates the cytotoxic effect of olive leaf extract and its combination with epirubicin.Method:Cell viability was measured via ATP assay on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines. Apoptosis was detected by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes. A single extract was used throughout the study.Results:Both olive leaf extract and epirubicin resulted in cytotoxic effect in a dose-dependent manner in both cell lines. The extract further increased the cytotoxic effect of epirubicin in MDA-MB-231 cell line. However, in contrast, it abolished the cytotoxic effect of epirubicin in MCF-7 cell line. As a confirmative result, the increased expressions ofConclusion:Olive leaf extract modulates the cytotoxic effect of epirubicin when it is in combination depending on the type of cell line. This warrants further in vivo experiments for better understanding of this intriguing result.