The Interactions of Red Clover with Tamoxifen

Abstract:

The purpose of our research project was to determine if there is an interaction between red clover, a common alternative medicine, and Tamoxifen, which is a conventional chemotherapeutic drug administered to breast cancer patients. To determine if such an interaction did exist MCF-7 cells (a human epithelial breast cancer cell line, that is ERa+, and grows in response to estrogens) were grown in the presence or absence of Estradiol, Tamoxifen and red clover. Red clover contains phytoestrogens, which were found to have a similar effect on MCF-7 cells (made the proliferation rate increase) as Estradiol. The effects of Tamoxifen, and its ability to induce breast cancer cell death were markedly reduced when cells were treated with red clover and with Estradiol. The results of this project prove to be of particular interest to patients with breast cancer and to oncologists. This project has also shown the dangers of practicing polypharmacy, and the need for further awareness and education regarding the interactions of many drugs, conventional and alternative.