The Viability and Pro Apoptotic Effect of Green Tea on Breast Cancer Cell Line (SK-BR-3) and Human Fibroblast Cells (HU-02)

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers and is the second leading cause of death form of cancer in women. In recent years, many scientific and medical studies have shown that Green tea has anti-proliferative, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, antibacterial and antiviral effects. Some Green tea polyphenols have anti-cancer activity. In the present study, the effect of Green tea extract was evaluated on the Breast cancer cell line (SK-BR-3) and compared with human fibroblast cell line (HU-02). SK-BR-3 and HU-02 cell lines were treated for 24, 48 and 72 hours with different concentrations of Green tea (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 μg/ml). Then, Bioavailability was analyzed by MTT kit and Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry using an Annexin V-FITS Kit. With increasing concentrations of Green tea extract in dose and time dependent manner, bioavailability of cells showed a decrease as compared to control group. Increased incidence of apoptosis was significantly higher in other experimental groups than the control group, while the concentration of 800 μg/ml of Green tea extract was more effective in SKBR3 cell line. Green tea did not show significant effect in HU-02 cells. Due to the fact that cell proliferation and abnormal apoptosis are one of the main characteristics of cancer cells, Green tea can be used to reduce cell proliferation and increase apoptosis in prevention and treatment of Breast cancer.