Ellagic acid, pomegranate and prostate cancer -- a mini review.
There is currently a shifting focus towards finding natural compounds that may prevent or treat cancer, due to the problems that exist with current chemotherapeutic regimens. The fruit of the Punica granatum (pomegranate) contains hundreds of phytochemicals and pomegranate extracts have recently been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties, thought to be due to the action of ellagic acid, the main polyphenol in pomegranate. In this mini review the effects of pomegranate extracts and ellagic acid on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and their future potential are discussed.
Bell
Carolyn
C
School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queens University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
Hawthorne
Susan
S
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004610:Ellagic Acid