Pomegranate Juice (PJ) And/Or Pomegranate Extracts (PE) Significantly Inhibit The Growth Of Prostate Cancer Cells

Pomegranate Juice (PJ) And/Or Pomegranate Extracts (PE) Significantly Inhibit The Growth Of Prostate Cancer Cells

Pomegranate fruit from the tree Punica granatum has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes and is described as “nature’s power fruit”. Recent research has shown that pomegranate juice (PJ) and/or pomegranate extracts (PE) significantly inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells (PCa) in culture. In preclinical murine models, PJ and/or PE inhibit growth and angiogenesis of prostate tumors.

In a review, published in Int J Mol Sci, the authors have summarized data on the effects of PJ and PE on prostate cancer.  They have also discussed the effects of specific components of the pomegranate fruit and how they have been used to study the mechanisms involved in prostate cancer progression and their potential to be used in deterring prostate cancer metastasis [1].

The pomegranate fruit can be divided into three major anatomical components: the juice, the pericarp and the seeds. These discrete components of the pomegranate fruit have been found to exert anti-proliferative and anti-invasive effects on PCa cells [2]. The juice and pericarp contain a rich complement of two types of polyphenolic components which have attracted interest for recent research: anthocyanins which give the juice its red color [3], such as delphinidin, cyanidin and pelargonidin, and hydrolyzable tannins, such as the punicalagin and gallagic acid. Other polyphenolic components of possible interest include kaempferol, quercetin and luteolin [4].

                                                         Anthocyanidins

Anthocyanidin	R3'	R4'	R5'	R3	R5	R6	R7
Aurantinidin	H	OH	H	OH	OH	OH	OH
Cyanidin	OH	OH	H	OH	OH	H	OH
Delphinidin	OH	OH	OH	OH	OH	H	OH
Europinidin	OCH3	OH	OH	OH	OCH3	H	OH
Pelargonidin	H	OH	H	OH	OH	H	OH
Malvidin	OCH3	OH	OCH3	OH	OH	H	OH
Peonidin	OCH3	OH	H	OH	OH	H	OH
Petunidin	OH	OH	OCH3	OH	OH	H	OH
Rosinidin	OCH3	OH	H	OH	OH	H	OCH3

Recently, it is reported that the three components of PJ, luteolin, ellagic acid and punicic acid together, have similar inhibitory effects on prostate cancer growth, angiogenesis and metastasis [5]. Results from clinical trials are also promising. PJ and/or PE significantly prolonged the prostate specific antigen (PSA) doubling time in patients with prostate cancer [6].

Important constituents of pomegranate

A preventive therapy is far better than a curative one.

References:

1. Green, M.-M.; et. al. Pomegranate and Its Components as Alternative Treatment for Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2014, 15(9), 14949-14966.

2. Lansky, E. P.; et. al. Possible synergistic prostate cancer suppression by anatomically discrete pomegranate fractions. Investig New Drugs 2005, 23, 11-20.

3. Hernandez, F.; et. al. Evolution of juice anthocyanins during ripening of new selected pomegranate (punica granatum) clones. Eur Food Res Technol 1999, 210, 39-42.

4. Gomez-Caravaca A.M.; et. al. Determination of the major phenolic compounds in pomegranate juices by HPLC–DAD–ESI-MS. J Agric Food Chem 2013, 61, 5328-5337.

5. Adhami V. M.; et. al. Cancer chemoprevention by pomegranate: Laboratory and clinical evidence. Nutr Cancer 2009, 61, 811-815.

6. Paller C. J.; et. al. A randomized phase II study of pomegranate extract for men with rising psa following initial therapy for localized prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2013, 16, 50-55.