Prostate cancer prevention through pomegranate fruit

Cell Cycle. 2006 Feb;5(4):371-3. doi: 10.4161/cc.5.4.2486. Epub 2006 Feb 15.

Abstract

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among U.S. males with a similar trend in many Western countries. CaP is an ideal candidate disease for chemoprevention because it is typically diagnosed in men over 50 years of age, and thus even a modest delay in disease progression achieved through pharmacological or nutritional intervention could significantly impact the quality of life of these patients. In this regard we and others have proposed the use of dietary antioxidants as candidate CaP chemopreventive agents. The fruit pomegranate derived from the tree Punica granatum has been shown to possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In a recent study, we showed that pomegranate fruit extract (PFE), through modulations in the cyclin kinase inhibitor-cyclin-dependent kinase machinery, resulted in inhibition of cell growth followed by apoptosis of highly aggressive human prostate carcinoma PC3 cells. These events were associated with alterations in the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 shifting the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio in favor of apoptosis. Further, we showed that oral administration of a human acceptable dose of PFE to athymic nude mice implanted with CWR22Rnu1 cells resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth with concomitant reduction in secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the serum. The outcome of this study could have a direct practical implication and translational relevance to CaP patients, because it suggests that pomegranate consumption may retard CaP progression, which may prolong the survival and quality of life of the patients.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Lythraceae / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Models, Biological
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / diet therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Plant Extracts
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen