Betulinic acid-induced cytotoxicity in human breast tumor cell lines MCF-7 and T47D and its modification by tocopherol.

Betulinic acid (BA) has been shown to cause apoptosis in neuroblastoma and melanoma cell lines. We evaluated the cytotoxicity of BA in two breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T47D differing in their p53 status. Treatment with BA resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.

Biochanin A enhances the radiotoxicity in colon tumor cells in vitro.

Herbs and other plant-based compounds have increasingly been recognized as useful for the prevention and treatment of cancer. There exists enormous scope for screening and evaluation of herbal/plant products to develop an effective radiosensitizer and radioprotector that is relevant for cancer therapy. Anticancer agents that can effectively trigger the process of cell death in tumor cells need to be developed.