Effects of green tea, matcha tea and their components epigallocatechin gallate and quercetin on MCF‑7 and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells

Abstract

We investigated the anticarcinogenic potential of green tea and its components epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and quercetin, as well as tamoxifen, on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-23 breast cancer cells. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, the quantity of EGCG and quercetin in green tea was analyzed. The receptor status of the cells was confirmed immunohistochemically. Various viability and cytotoxicity tests were later performed to investigate the effects of the substances. After incubating the cells with green tea extract, EGCG, quercetin and tamoxifen, a decrease in viability (MTT test) or proliferation (BrdU assay) was found in all cell tests with varying effects, depending on the assay used. The effects were similar in both cell lines. This work confirmed that EGCG and quercetin are contained in green tea and that both substances in pure form and as green tea have an anticarcinogenic effect on both estrogen receptor-positive and-negative breast cancer cells. This effect could also be demonstrated with tamoxifen in both cell lines (MTT and BrdU assays). These results suggest that the effects observed in these experiments are not generated only via estrogen receptor-mediated pathways.

Alchemilla vulgaris agg. (Lady's mantle) from central Balkan: antioxidant, anticancer and enzyme inhibition properties

“…The rest of active compounds for example, catechin, are also compounds with potential to limit tumor cell growth. 57 Apart from discussed antitumor properties, catechin modulated epigenetic events such as DNA methylation and demethylation, as well as acetylation deacetylation of histones, inuence tubulin-microtubule 58,59 equilibrium and changed the expression of enzymes relevant for migration and invasion of malignant cells. Plenty of literature data conrmed that efficacy of any herbal extract is dened by the mixture and interplay of its constituents.…”

Antioxidant Properties and Nutritional Composition of Matcha Green Tea

“…Matcha is a powdered type of Japanese green tea (Camellia sinensis) of the Tencha type [12], commonly consumed in the world, and the frequency of its consumption keeps increasing [13]. This tea type is particularly rich in antioxidant compounds due to its traditional way of cultivation [14,15].…”

Quercetin depletes intracellular Ca2+ stores and blunts ATP‐triggered Ca2+ signaling in bEnd.3 endothelial cells

“…Quercetin has been well demonstrated to be an anticancer agent and has shown efficacy in several glioma cell lines . Although it has not been shown to suppress glioma growth in vivo, this drug has been demonstrated to be accumulated in the rat brain tissues , supporting its potential usefulness as an agent against glioma.…”

“…Further, due to its pleiotropic inhibition on many protein kinases involved in dysregulated cell growth, it is regarded as a potential chemo‐preventive agent against cancer . Quercetin inhibits proliferation of both oestrogen receptor‐positive and receptor‐negative breast cancer cells, suggesting such anticancer activities are independent of oestrogen receptor‐mediated pathways . By enhancing mRNA levels of death receptor genes, quercetin has been shown to sensitize human myeloid leukemia KG‐1 cells against apoptosis induced by TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand .…”