Monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, a replicative DNA polymerase inhibitor, from spinach enhances the anti-cell proliferation effect of gemcitabine in human pancreatic cancer cells

► Gemcitabine (GEM) suppressed growth in the human pancreatic cancer cell lines. ► Spinach monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG) suppressed cancer cell growth. ► GEM-MGDG combination revealed synergistic effects on the cancer cell growth. ► These enhancements might cause the inhibition of mammalian DNA polymerase. ► MGDG from spinach could be an effective clinical anticancer chemotherapy of GEM.