Correlation of the Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Moroccan Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) with Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents

Abstract

Abstract:The Pomegranate (Punica Granatum), which belongs to the Lythraceae family, has been used for centuries in traditional Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine of its vermifuge properties and also to treat various diseases. The aim of this research was to investigate the cytotoxicity and antioxidant activities of Moroccan Pomegranate (peel, leaves, branches, flowers and corolla). Further, the biological activities were correlated with phytochemical contents of the plant extracts. Methanolic extract from different parts of Punica Granatum was assessed for its antiproliferative activity in two human cancer (breast and colon) cells lines (MBA-MD 231 and HT-29), through MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) bioassay using cell viability and cytotoxicity indices. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay was conducted to screen the antioxidant property of the extracts together with its phenolic and flavonoids content were evaluated, as well. The methanolic extract of Punica Granatum (peel, leaves, branches, flowers and corolla) showed the highest antiproliferative activity on MBA-MD 231 (IC 50 was 133.53~233.32 μg/mL) and HT-29 (IC 50 was 127.58~203.24 μg/mL) cells. Antioxidants contents are distributed as follows: peel > leaf > flower > corolla > branches. The inhibitory activities required for decreasing initial DPPH by 50% are 8.27, 9.9, 10.06, 11.67 and 13.28 µg/mL, respectively. These results are in correlation with polyphenols content from corolla, peel, leaves, flower and branches are 120.7, 115, 96.65, 90.73 and 64.67 mg GAE/g dw (mg gallic acid equivalents per g dry weight) and flavonoids are 188.8, 221.7, 180.2, 193.7 and 158.5 mg QE/g dw (mg quercetin equivalents per g dry weight). Our results show that the peel, flowers, corolla, leaves and branches of Moroccan Pomegranate may contain a lot of bioactive compounds which are responsible for strong antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities observed here. Our finding indicates the possibility of using the extracts of this plant as source of natural antioxidant and anticancer mainly for its abundant phenolic and flavonoid contents.

The comparison of the physicochemical parameters and antioxidant activity of homemade and commercial pomegranate juices

“…The obtained results show a strong correlation coefficient between TPC and DPPH (r = 0.886), TPC and FRAP (r = 0.958) as well as DPPH and FRAP (r = 0.797; Table 4) which is in accordance with the previously published reports (Eddebbagh et al, 2016;Ozgen et al, 2008). …”

“…Recently, the high antioxidant activity of the extracts from different parts of the pomegranate fruit such as the peel, juice and seeds have been reported (Shiban et al, 2012). Phenolic acids, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid, either alone or in combination, are responsible for the antioxidant activity of pomegranate (Eddebbagh et al, 2016). It has been shown that pomegranate juice contains the highest concentration of total polyphenols compared to other studied fruit juices (Vrhovsek et al, 2004).…”

The comparison of the physicochemical parameters and antioxidant activity of homemade and commercial pomegranate juices [pdf]

“…The obtained results show a strong correlation coefficient between TPC and DPPH (r = 0.886), TPC and FRAP (r = 0.958) as well as DPPH and FRAP (r = 0.797; Table 4) which is in accordance with the previously published reports (Eddebbagh et al, 2016;Ozgen et al, 2008). Dżugan, M., Wesołowska, M., Zaguła, G., Puchalski, Cz.…”

Evaluation of phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of pomegranate flower

“…The results showed that the greatest total flavonoid content was obtained in the methanolic extract. Eddebbagh et al (24) have found 221.70 mg QUE/ g dry weight in 80% methanolic extract and Abdolahi et al (16) have reported 64.38 ± 0.81 mg catechin equivalents per gram of dry weight in dried pomegranate flower. These differences might be related to solvent used and location.…”

“…The results showed that the highest total phenolic content was obtained in the methanolic extract, while the lowest was observed in the n-hexane extract. Eddebbagh et al (24) found that the phenolic content of 80% methanolic extract of dried pomegranate flower is 90.73 mg GAE/ g of dry weight flowers. Abdolahi et al (16) have found 28 mg GAE/ g dry weight in 70% ethanolic extract and Rashid and Shafi (25) have found 190.50 and 103.81 mg GAE/ g in methanolic and aqueous extracts in dried pomegranate flower.…”