BackgroundThe numerous side effects and chemo-resistance of conventional chemical drugs in the treatment of malignancies have led to consideration of the anti-cancer properties of natural products. In the present study, we aimed to explore the apoptotic effect of two natural components, resveratrol and prednisolone, on the T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM. Our findings suggested the incorporation of these natural agents into drug regimens to treat patients with ALL.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the effect of different doses of resveratrol (15, 50 and 100 µM) and prednisolone (700 µM) on BAX (apoptosis promoter) and BCL2 (apoptosis inhibitor) expressions following 24 and 48 hours of treatment on CCRF-CEM cells, using real-time PCR, and on apoptosis induction using flow cytometry.ResultsThe results showed a time- and dose-dependent increase in BAX expression and a decrease in BCL2 expression. Apoptosis was induced in CCRF-CEM cells treated with resveratrol and prednisolone for 24 and 48 hours. Combined resveratrol and prednisolone treatment showed synergistic effects on the overexpression of BAX and the downregulation of BCL2. The drug combination had a greater influence on apoptosis induction compared with either drug administered alone after 48 hours of treatment.ConclusionThe results of this study suggested that resveratrol exhibited a remarkable efficacy to improve the influence of glucocorticoids drugs, especially prednisolone, to induce apoptosis in the CCRF-CEM cell line.