Resveratrol-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells is mediated primarily through the caspase-3-dependent pathway.

Background: Resveratrol (RSVL), a nontoxic natural compound found in a wide variety of plants with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is emerging as a potent chemopreventive and anticancer drug. Recently, we demonstrated that RSVL-induced apoptosis in several human cancer cell lines was associated with cleavage of the proapoptotic 116 kDa poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein (PARP) into its 89-kDa fragment.

Methods: Western blotting was used to check the levels of caspase-3 and PARP proteins.