Development of multi-drug resistance to anticancer drugs in HepG2 cells due to MRP2 upregulation on exposure to menthol.

Background: Menthol exerts relaxing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities, and is marketed as a functional food and therapeutic drug.

Aim: In the present study, the effects of menthol on the expression of multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (MRP2) and its association with the cytotoxicity of epirubicin (EPI) and cisplatin (CIS) were examined using HepG2 cells.

Methods: The expression levels of target genes were examined by real-time PCR.