Anticancer activity of phenolic antioxidants against breast cancer cells and a spontaneous mammary tumor

Phenolics such as ferulic, caffeic, gallic acids and curcumin were tested for their potential anti proliferative and cytotoxic properties in human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) as well as on a spontaneous mammary adenocarcinoma tumor. As a single agent, caffeic acid showed substantial growth inhibitory activity. In combination with cisplatin it was also found to be effective. For the current study we used a chick embryo model to assess antiangiogenic activity. Curcumin and its beta cyclodextrin complex were observed to interfere with capillary formation. The selected phenolics were structurally related which allowed us to gather additional information regarding the structure - activity relationship underlying the biological activity of these bioactive compounds. It was verified that the hydroxylated acid derivatives yielded better results than the merely hydroxylated ones in these tumor systems.