Pomegranate Fruit Extract Impairs Invasion and Motility in Human Breast Cancer

Gazala N. Khan, Michael A. Gorin, Devin Rosenthal, Quintin Pan, Li Wei Bao, Zhi Fen Wu, Robert A. Newman, Alison D. Pawlus, Peiying Yang, Ephraim P. Lansky, Sofia D. Merajver

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose. Pomegranate fruit extracts (PFEs) possess polyphenolic and other compounds with antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in prostate, lung, and other cancers. Because nuclear transcription factor-kB (NF-kB) is known to regulate cell survival, proliferation, tumorigenesis, and inflammation, it was postulated that PFEs may exert anticancer effects at least in part by modulating NF-kB activity. Experimental design. The authors investigated the effect of a novel, defined PFE consisting of both fermented juice and seed oil on the NF-kB pathway, which is constitutively active in aggressive breast cancer cell lines. The effects of the PFE on NF-kBĝ€"regulated cellular processes such as cell survival, proliferation, and invasion were also examined. Results. Analytical characterization of the bioactive components of the PFE revealed active constituents, mainly ellagitannins and phenolic acids in the aqueous PFE and conjugated octadecatrienoic acids in the lipid PFE derived from seeds.The aqueous PFE dose-dependently inhibited NF-kBĝ€"dependent reporter gene expression associated with proliferation, invasion, and motility in aggressive breast cancer phenotypes while decreasing RhoC and RhoA protein expression. Conclusion. Inhibition of motility and invasion by PFEs, coincident with suppressed RhoC and RhoA protein expression, suggests a role for these defined extracts in lowering the metastatic potential of aggressive breast cancer species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)242-253
Number of pages12
JournalIntegrative Cancer Therapies
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer prevention
  • In vitro studies
  • Punica granatum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Complementary and alternative medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pomegranate Fruit Extract Impairs Invasion and Motility in Human Breast Cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this