RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a Natural Polyphenol, Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 2519 OP 2523 VO 30 IS 7 A1 SUNITA D. RAO A1 KELLY PAGIDAS YR 2010 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/30/7/2519.abstract AB Background: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol constituent present in green tea previously shown to inhibit cancer growth. However, studies on human ovarian cancer are limited. This study evaluated, the effects of EGCG as a potential anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic agent in the human ovarian cancer line, SKOV-3. Materials and Methods: The MTS assay which measures metabolic activity of cells, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, and flow cytometry were used for the cell proliferation studies and cell morphology, DNA fragmentation analysis and the TUNEL assay for apoptotic effects. Results: The EGCG treated SKOV-3 cells showed inhibition of cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, EGCG-mediated SKOV-3 cell growth inhibition was associated with apoptotic changes as evident by cell cycle arrest and accumulation of cells in the apoptotic phase, cell morphological changes, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells. Conclusion: In SKOV-3 cells, EGCG inhibits cell proliferation via DNA synthesis reduction and induces apoptotic cell death via DNA damage, thus elucidating a novel, plausible mechanism of EGCG anti-tumorigenic property.