Abstract
In this work, we characterized conjugated linolenic acids (e.g., punicic acid) as the major components of the hydrophilic fraction (80% aqueous methanol extract) from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil (PSO) and evaluated their anti-inflammatory potential on some human colon (HT29 and HCT116), liver (HepG2 and Huh7), breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and prostate (DU145) cancer lines. Our results demonstrated that punicic acid and its congeners induce a significant decrease of cell viability for two breast cell lines with a related increase of the cell cycle G0/G1 phase respect to untreated cells. Moreover, the evaluation of a great panel of cytokines expressed by MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells showed that the levels of VEGF and nine pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MCP-1 and TNF-α) decreased in a dose dependent way with increasing amounts of the hydrophilic extracts of PSO, supporting the evidence of an anti-inflammatory effect. Taken together, the data herein suggest a potential synergistic cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant role of the polar compounds from PSO.
Highlights
The scientific world today recognizes the richness of flavonoids, vitamins (A, B and C), tannins and immune-boosting antioxidants in pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.), which is a fruit native to tropical and subtropical regions, originated from the Middle East and India, and has been empirically used for centuries for its medicinal purposes [1]
(e.g., peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ), by this way regulating gene expression and suppressing chemically induced carcinogenesis [13]. These bioactive compounds explicate anticarcinogenic effects by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lysyl oxidase (LOX) and inhibition of an activation factor, Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-Κβ), thereby decreasing invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; these components promote a significant decrease of total hepatic cytochrome P450 content which activates procarcinogens and inhibits tumor initiation; pomegranate-derived bioactive compounds inhibit enzymes like carbonic anhydrase and ornithine decarboxylase that are active in cancer cells growth [14]
Few studies are available about the characterization and evaluation of biological activities of the hydrophilic fraction extracted from Pomegranate seed oil (PSO)
Summary
The scientific world today recognizes the richness of flavonoids, vitamins (A, B and C), tannins and immune-boosting antioxidants in pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.), which is a fruit native to tropical and subtropical regions, originated from the Middle East and India, and has been empirically used for centuries for its medicinal purposes [1]. (e.g., peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α and γ), by this way regulating gene expression and suppressing chemically induced carcinogenesis [13] These bioactive compounds explicate anticarcinogenic effects by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lysyl oxidase (LOX) and inhibition of an activation factor, Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-Κβ), thereby decreasing invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis; these components promote a significant decrease of total hepatic cytochrome P450 content which activates procarcinogens and inhibits tumor initiation; pomegranate-derived bioactive compounds inhibit enzymes like carbonic anhydrase and ornithine decarboxylase that are active in cancer cells growth [14]. The purpose of the present investigation was to extract and preliminarily characterize the hydrophilic substances from seed oil of pomegranates grown in the Mediterranean region of Italy and to evaluate their potential effects on several colon (HT29 and HCT116), liver (HepG2 and Huh7), breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and prostate (DU145) cancer lines
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