title: The antioxidant potency of Punica granatum L. Fruit peel reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis on breast cancer.
abstract: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is known to possess pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant and anticancer. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant potency of a methanolic pomegranate fruit peel extract (PPE) and the relation with its antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of PPE were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteau and the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl free radical methods, respectively. Phenolic acids present in the extract were characterized by a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Cell proliferation was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay. The apoptotic effects were determined by in situ Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, and Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The extraction yield as a percentage of plant material was 37.97% (wt/wt), and total phenolic content was 331.28 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of extract. According to HPLC analysis, the most abundant phenolic acid detected in the extract was ellagic acid. MCF-7 cell proliferation decreased depending on PPE concentration (25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 μg/mL) and incubation times (24, 48, and 72 hours). After 48 and 72 hours, the apoptotic cell numbers were significantly increased at 100, 200, and 300 μg/mL PPE concentrations. In addition, expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax was increased, and that of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 was decreased after 200 and 300 μg/mL PPE treatment for 48 and 72 hours. Because PPE reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis on MCF-7 cancer cells, we believe that PPE has important antioxidant and apoptotic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Miris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dikmen
authors.forename: Nilgün
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates / Q000032:analysis; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C494826:BAX protein, human; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; C029556:Folin's phenol reagent; D062385:Hydroxybenzoates; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D004610:Ellagic Acid; D008982:Molybdenum; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C017616:phenolic acid