Pomegranate inhibits human pancdreatic cancer cells. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Pomegranate extract induces cell cycle arrest and alters cellular phenotype of human pancreatic cancer cells.
Anticancer Res. 2011 Sep ;31(9):2699-704. PMID: 21868510
Office of Cancer Centers, National Cancer Institute, Building 6116, Room 7002, Rockville, MD 20892, U.S.A. [email protected].
BACKGROUND: Pomegranate extract (PE) is a standardized whole-fruit extract of pomegranate, a fruit with known anticancer properties.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: PANC-1 and AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells were used as in vitro models to test the effects of PE.
RESULTS: PE treatment induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation in PANC-1 cells. PE treatment increased the proportion of cells lacking CD44 and CD24 expression, which are associated with increased tumor-initiating ability, demonstrating that PE altered cell phenotype. PE was more effective in inhibiting the proliferation of PANC-1 cells than the clinically used dose of paclitaxel. Similar results were obtained in the AsPC-1 cell line. Individual pomegranate phytochemicals were only modestly effective in inhibiting cell proliferation, suggesting that unidentified phytochemicals are responsible for the inhibitory effect of PE.
CONCLUSION: These data suggest that PE is a promising candidate for further preclinical testing for treatment of human pancreatic cancer.