Synergistic Growth Inhibitory Effects of Lycium barbarum (Goji berry) Extract with Doxorubicin against Human Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract

Lycium barbarum L. known as Goji berry is a plant with wide variety of medicinal properties, including anticancer. The present study aimed to explore the cytotoxic effect of Lycium barbarum fruit extract (LBE), and its combination with doxorubicin on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The result of MTT assay showed that the single treatment of doxorubicin performed significant cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The combination of LBE and doxorubicin on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed synergistic cytotoxic effect based on the fractional effect analysis (FA) and the calculated combination index (CI). Increasing the anticancer effects on the one hand and preventing the dose-limiting effect, like cardiotoxicity on the other hand, of the anthracycline antibiotics indicate L. barbarum fruits as chemosensitizing and chemoprotective at the same time.