Selective apoptotic and genotoxic effects of pomegranate peel extract against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line

Abstract

Finding a therapeutic agent that is selective, non-toxic to normal cells, and does not develop resistance or unpleasant side effects became the most challenging aspect in cancer therapy. Our study investigates the potential antitumorigenic effects of pomegranate peel extract against human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG<inf>2</inf> cell line. The effect of the extract on cell viability, DNA fragmentation, cell cycle arrest, and expression of cancer related genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG<inf>2</inf>), and normal human hepatocyte cell line (THLE<inf>2</inf>) was evaluated using MTT, comet assay, flow cytometry and real time PCR, respectively. Unlike THLE<inf>2</inf> cells, the pomegranate peel extract significantly decreased cell viability accompanied by DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest in HepG<inf>2</inf> cells. It also significantly decreased the expression levels of Cyclooxygenase-2, B-cell lymphoma 2, vascular permeability factor, matrix metalloproteinase -9, cyclin B1, and cyclin dependent kinase1 while the expression levels of BCL2-associated X protein, and p21 genes were significantly increased. The obtained results suggest a potential antitumorigenic effect of pomegranate peel extract against HepG<inf>2</inf> cell lines.