Epicatechin enhances anti-proliferative effect of bleomycin in ovarian cancer cell

Background: Bleomycin (BLM) is an anti-cancer drug widely used in the treatment of cancer. BLM causes several side effects related to DNA and cellular damage. The aim of this study was investigated the effects of tea polyphenol epicatechin on anti-proliferative effects induced by bleomycin in human normal skin and human ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Human ovarian cancer cell (SKOV-3) and human non-malignant fibroblast cell (HFFF2) were treated with epicatechin at various concentrations (10, 25 and 50 µM) and BLM alone and with their combinations, further their effects on cell viability were evaluated. Results: The combined treatment of epicatechin with BLM enhanced significantly inhibition of cell growth in comparison to BLM alone in cancer cell. Epicatechin enhanced significantly cytotoxicity induced by BLM with 83% at dose 50 µM, while it was 92% in BLM-treated cells. Epicatechin was not showed any cytotoxicity on HFFF2 cells. Conclusion: Study suggests that epicatechin chemosensitize the ovarian cancer cell to BLM-induced growth inhibition without any toxicity on normal cell.