Tannic acid (TA), a plant polyphenol, has been described as having anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiallergic, antiinflammatory and astringent properties. Resveratrol (RES), a phytoalexin phenolic compound, has been known as an antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiinflammatory, antimutagenic, antiproliferative, antiviral, antibacterial, estrogenic and vasodilator agent. Although molecular mechanisms of TA and RES responsible for anticancer activity are yet to be known, there are in vitro studies indicating that these substances contribute to anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis. In this study, the effects of TA and RES in MCF-7 breast cancer cells on apoptotic index, FAS-associated death domain (FADD) and Bak proteins were investigated. Terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method was applied for apoptosis and immunohistochemical staining for FADD and Bak proteins. Our study results show that TA and RES increased apoptotic index, percentage ratios of apoptotic proteins Bak and FADD in MCF-7 cell line.

Key words: Bak, Fas-associated death domain (FADD), MCF-7, resveratrol, tannic acid.