Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of gallic acid on the breast adenocarcinoma cell lines SKBR3 versus normal fibroblast cells (HU-02)

Background: Breast cancer is a malignant proliferation of epithelial cells that lining the ducts or lobules of the breast. Breast cancer is the second common cancer (after lung cancer) in women. Gallic acid, being a polyphenols, has been reported for its antiproliferative activity against many cancer cell lines. Objective of the present study is effect of gallic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of the human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines SKBR3 and normal fibroblasts cells. Methods: This experimental study was performed in cellular and developmental biology of Shahrekord Islamic Azad University, Iran from April to August 2015. For anti-cancer activity, in this study SKBR3 cells and normal fibroblast cells (HU-02) were cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium, DMEM (Gibco, Life Technologies, Inc., New York, USA) medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, FBS (Gibco, Life Technologies, Inc., New York, USA). The SKBR3 and normal fibroblast cells were treated in the medium of DMEM medium and gallic acid (20, 40, 80, 100 and 200 µg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cells viability was assessed by MTS (Methyl- Thiazol-) assay. Cells were seeded at 5×103 cells/ml in 96 well plates and incubated for 24 hours. Then metabolites of bacteria were added, after indicated times MTS (20µl) was added and the absorbance was measured at 492 nm using ELISA plate reader. The percentage of apoptosis induction was determined by flow cytometry analysis using Annexin-V fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) kit (BioVision Products, CA, USA) in 20, 40, 80, 100 and 200 µg/ml concentration of gallic acid at 48 hours incubation. Results: Gallic acid decreases significantly the viability of SKBR3 cell line in a time and dose dependent manner. So that the most effective concentration of this substance was 200 µg/ml and 72 hours after treatment (P< 0.05). According to the data of Annexin-PI, the highest apoptosis induction rate was seen in 200 µg/ml (P< 0.05). While gallic acid in various concentrations had no significant effect on normal fibroblast cells. Conclusion: Objective of the present study is effect of gallic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of the human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines SKBR3 and normal fibroblasts cells.