In an attempt to ameliorate the chemotherapy associated normal cell toxicit
y, in this study a known antioxidant, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (
GSPE) using Chang liver cells has been used. Chang liver cells were treated
in vitro with idarubicin (Ida) (30 nM) and 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphamide
(4-HC) (1 mug/ml) with or without proanthocyanidin (25 mug/ml). The cells
were grown in vitro and the growth rate of the cells were determined using
MTT assay. The results showed that the GSPE decreased growth inhibitory eff
ects of Ida and 4-HC on Chang liver cells in vitro. Since these chemotherap
eutic agents are known to induce apoptosis in the target cells, these cells
were also analyzed for presence of apoptotic cells using flow cytometry. T
he GSPE decreased the number of apoptotic cell population induced by either
chemotherapy. In an attempt to determine the mechanisms of ameliorating ef
fects of proanthocyanidin, the expression of apoptosis/cell cycle/growth re
lated genes, Bcl-2, p53 and c-myc was determined in the treated and control
cells using Western blotting or reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain rea
ction (RT-PCR) techniques. There was an increased expression of Bcl-2 in th
e cells treated with GSPE. However, there was a significant decrease in the
expression of other cell cycle related genes such as p53 and c-myc in thes
e cells following treatment with GSPE. Thus, these results indicate that pr
oanthocyanidin can be a potential candidate to ameliorate the toxic effects
associated with chemotherapeutic agents used in treatment of cancer. (C) 2
000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.