Resveratrol improves the efficacy of paclitaxel in treating liver cancer

A Chinese in vitro study tested the efficacy of the natural cancer inhibitor paclitaxel when taken alongside the plant-based polyphenol resveratrol. The study concluded that resveratrol improved the anticancer effects of paclitaxel on human liver cancer cells, allowing reduced amounts of the cancer-fighting substance to be used in treatments.

The study was supported by the Central South University. Its findings were published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• Different doses of paclitaxel and its combination with resveratrol were tested on cultured normal cells and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Various tests analyzed their ability to inhibit cell growth, cellular apoptosis, mRNA expression, and protein expression.
• The resveratrol-only dose did not stop the growth of normal or liver cancer cells. The five- and 10-microgram per microliter (mcg/mL) of paclitaxel-only dosages did not affect normal cells.
• Both the dose of paclitaxel-L and the dose of paclitaxel-H halted the growth of liver cancer cells. When resveratrol was added, the inhibitory effects increased.
• Furthermore, the combination of resveratrol and paclitaxel-H was able to cause the most apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Additional treatment with resveratrol raised the number of liver cancer cells that underwent apoptosis for both paclitaxel concentrations.
• Paclitaxel was able to improve mRNA and protein expressions related to anti-cancer processes. Likewise, it decreased the expressions associated with cancer growth and development, as well as those that prevent apoptosis. Resveratrol could improve the beneficial mRNA expressions.

Given resveratrol’s demonstrated ability to improve the cancer-fighting effects of paclitaxel, the researchers came to the conclusion that the former could serve as a sensitizing agent for the latter.

For those who wish to read the full study, visit this link.

Learn about more natural means of checking the growth of cancer cells at AntiCancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Jiang Q, Yang M, Qu Z, Zhou J, Zhang Q. RESVERATROL ENHANCES ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF PACLITAXEL IN HEPG2 HUMAN LIVER CANCER CELLS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 4 October 2017;17(477). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1956-0.