Epicatechin enhances anti-proliferative effect of bleomycin in ovarian cancer cell

Background and aim: bleomycin (blm) is an anti-cancer drug widely used inthe treatment of cancer. blm causes several side effects related to dna andcellular damage. the aim of this study was investigated the effects of teapolyphenol epicatechin on anti-proliferative effects induced by bleomycin inhuman normal skin and human ovarian cancer cells.methods: human ovarian cancer cell (skov-3) and human non-malignantfibroblast cell (hfff2) were treated with epicatechin at various concentrations(10, 25 and 50 ?m) and blm alone and with their combinations, further theireffects on cell viability were evaluated.results: the combined treatment of epicatechin with blm enhanced significantlyinhibition of cell growth in comparison to blm alone in cancer cell. epicatechinenhanced significantly cytotoxicity induced by blm with 83% at dose 50 ?m,while it was 92% in blm-treated cells. epicatechin was not showed anycytotoxicity on hfff2 cells.conclusion: study suggests that epicatechin chemosensitize the ovarian cancercell to blm-induced growth inhibition without any toxicity on normal cell.