Effect of selected catechins on doxorubicin antiproliferative efficacy and hepatotoxicity in vitro

Catechins may influence both desirable and undesirable effects of many drugs. In this study, the in vitro effect of (+)-catechin, (–)-epicatechin, (–)-epigallocatechin, (–)-epicatechingallate, and (–)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG)on the efficacy of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was studiedin HCT-8 cancer cells.Rat hepatocytes were used to study the influence of EGCG on DOX hepatotoxicity. Cell proliferation and viability were studied by 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and neutral red uptake assays. Formation of reactive oxigen species was determined using the dichlorofluorescein assay. All of the studied catechins(1–25 µmol L–1) had no effect on the proliferation of intestinal cancer cells and did not affect the antiproliferative effect of DOX (1–8 µmol L–1) in these cells. Moreover, EGCG at 25 µmol L–1 increased the viability of isolated hepatocytes and significantly protected these cells against DOX-induced toxicity and ROS production. Consumption of EGCG during DOX therapy seems to be safe and beneficial, since EGCG does not decrease DOX anticancer efficacy and could ameliorate DOX hepatotoxicity