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

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 mu g/mL), hydroxytyrosol (30 mu g/ mL) and oleuropein (200 mu g/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 poly-phenols produced reactive oxygen species and suppressed breast cancer cells. For flow cytometry analysis, the three polyphenols impacted the MCF-7 cell and MDA-MB-231 cycle, stagnated in the G1 phase and S phase, respectively, via reducing Cyclin D protein expression and promoting cell apoptosis. The pro-apoptosis, anti-proliferation capacity and delaying cell cycle of the three olive oil polyphenols could be achieved through the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, mainly inhibited phosphorylation of AKT, PI3K protein.