Possible synergistic prostate cancer suppression by anatomically discrete pomegranate fractions

Abstract

We investigated whether dissimilar biochemical fractions originating in anatomically discrete sections of the pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit might act synergistically against proliferation, metastatic potential, and phosholipase A2 (PLA2) expression of human prostate cancer cells in vitro . Proliferation of DU 145 human prostate cancer cells was measured following treatment with a range of therapeutically active doses of fermented pomegranate juice polyphenols (W) and sub-therapeutic doses of either pomegranate pericarp (peel) polyphenols (P) or pomegranate seed oil (Oil). Invasion across Matrigel by PC-3 human prostate cancer cells was measured following treatment with combinations of W, P and Oil such that the total gross weight of pomegranate extract was held constant. Expression of PLA2, associated with invasive potential, was measured in the PC-3 cells after treatment with the same dosage combinations as per invasion. Supra-additive, complementary and synergistic effects were proven in all models by the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric H test at p < 0.001 for the proliferation tests, p < 0.01 for invasion, and p < 0.05 for PLA2 expression. Proliferation effects were additionally evaluated with CompuSyn software median effect analysis and showed a concentration index CI < 1, confirming synergy. The results suggest vertical as well as the usual horizontal strategies for discovering pharmacological actives in plants.

The Therapeutic Potential of Pomegranate and Its Products for Prevention of Cancer

“…Supraadditive, complementary and synergistic effects were proven in all models. Lansky et al (2005b) found equally combined amounts of pomegranate fermented juice, pomegranate pulp juice, cold-pressed pomegranate seed oil extracts resulted in a 99% suppression of DU-145 prostate cancer cell invasion across a matrigel matrix. Ellagic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin and punicic acid, important components of pomegranate significantly inhibited in vitro invasion of human PC-3 prostate cancer cells when employed individually.…”

Pomegranate &#8211; a tropical fruit rich in bioactive compounds with health-promoting properties

“…(2004) udowodnili, że zarówno olej z nasion granatu, jak i fermentowany sok z owocu hamują proliferację komórek raka gruczołu krokowego (LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145). Zauważono także, że ekstrakty z całych owoców granatu są bardziej skuteczne w działaniu antynowotworowym aniżeli ekstrakty przygotowane z poszczególnych części owocu (Lansky i in., 2005). Dwa dostępne badania sugerują, że u podstaw mechanizmu hamowania wzrostu komórek linii PC-3 leży modulowanie białek regulujących procesy apoptozy (Malik i in., 2005;Malik i Mukhtar, 2006).…”

Ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract inhibits angiogenesis in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo

“…Pomegranate ellagitannins have been shown to inhibit PCa cell proliferation in vitro and human PCa xenograft growth in vivo (18)(19)(20). The most abundant ellagitannin in pomegranate juice is called punicalagin.…”