Oleuropein and its hydrolysate from extra virgin olive oil inhibit breast cancer cells proliferation interfering with the PI3K-AKT signal pathway

Abstract

Naturally existing polyphenols in virgin olive oil possess significative biological activities and are potential nutraceutical therapeutic for breast cancer. In the present study, we investigated the anti-breast cancer activity of oleuropein and its hydrolysates, and further explored their molecular mechanisms. A similar cellular viability was observed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells both treated with oleocanthal (3 μg/mL), hydroxytyrosol (30 μg/mL) and oleuropein (200 μg/mL) showed the same cellular viability, indicating oleocanthal structure may be the main structural component part of the physiological activity of oleuropein. Results showed that olive polyphenols produced reactive oxygen sp..