Epicatechin administration leads to necrotic cell death of rat leukaemia promyelocytes in vivo.

BACKGROUND: (-)-Epicatechin (EC) induces oxidative DNA damage in HL-60 cells. The association between genotoxic and apoptotic/necrotic effects of EC was studied in rats with acute myeloid leukaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy and leukaemic rats were given EC by oral gavage at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight for 22 consecutive days. Bone marrow cells were subjected to analysis of DNA damage by the comet assay and apoptosis by flow cytometry. RESULTS: EC significantly increased DNA strand breaks in bone marrow cells of leukaemic animals but it did not exert such an effect on healthy rats. EC action led to necrosis of leukaemia cells but it did not induce apoptosis of these cells in comparison to the controls. CONCLUSION: EC has genotoxic and necrotic effects which may have utility in anticancer therapy against acute myeloid leukaemia.