# Effects of matcha tea extract on cell viability and estrogen receptor-β expression on MCF-7 breast cancer cells

## TL;DR

This study shows that matcha tea extract reduces the viability of breast cancer cells and lowers estrogen receptor-beta at the protein level.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that MTE specifically reduces ERβ protein expression in MCF-7 cells without affecting gene expression.

## Key findings

- MTE at 10 µg/ml significantly reduced MCF-7 cell viability after 72 hours.
- MTE at 10 µg/ml caused a significant decrease in ERβ protein levels.
- ERβ gene expression was not significantly affected by MTE treatment.

## Abstract

In the following work, we investigated the effect of matcha green tea extract (MTE) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell viability and estrogen receptor-beta expression (ERβ).

MCF-7 cells were stimulated with MTE at concentrations of 5 and 10 µg/ml. Cell viability was assessed using a water-soluble tetrazolium assay (WST-1 assay) after an incubation time of 72 h. ERβ was quantified at gene level by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A western blot (WB) was carried out for the qualitative assessment of the expression behavior of on a protein level.

The WST-1 test showed a significant inhibition of viability in MFC-7 cells after 72 h at 10 µg/ml. The WB demonstrated a significant quantitative decrease of ERβ at protein level with MTE concentrations of 10 µg/ml. In contrast, the PCR did not result in significant downregulation of ERβ.

MTE decreases the cell viability of MCF-7 cells and furthermore leads to a decrease of ERβ at protein level.