Pomegranate (Punica granatum): a natural source for the development of therapeutic compositions of food supplements with anticancer activities based on electron acceptor molecular characteristics

Abstract

Citation: Veljkovic V.V., Glisic S., Perovic V., Veljkovic N., Nicolson G.L.. Pomegranate (Punica granatum): a natural source for the development of therapeutic compositions of food supplements with anticancer activities based on electron acceptor molecular characteristics. Health and Disease 2016; 6(12):769-787 ABSTRACT Background: Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies, in addition to clinical data, demonstrate that pomegranate juice can prevent or slow-down the progression of some types of cancers. Despite the well-documented effect of pomegranate ingredients on neoplastic changes, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon remains elusive. Functional Foods in Methods:For the study of pomegranate ingredients the electron-ion interaction potential (EIIP) and the average quasi valence number (AQVN) were used. These molecular descriptors can be used to describe the long-range intermolecular interactions in biological systems and can identify substances with strong electron-acceptor properties. In this study, candidate human proteins interacting with pomegranate flavonoids have been analyzed by the informational spectrum method (ISM). This represents a virtual spectroscopy method for studying protein molecular interactions.Results: Our analysis indicates that the anti-cancer properties of pomegranate juice can be ascribed to the strong electron-acceptor properties of its chemical ingredients. This analysis also suggests that pomegranate flavonoids inhibit the "NF-kappaB" (NF-κB) pathway, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cancer. Conclusion:The results offer a possible explanation for an important molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer activity of pomegranate ingredients, which could also serve as a basis for the development of new therapeutic compositions of food supplements with pomegranatelike anticancer properties.Key words: cancer, pomegranate, flavonoids, food supplement, informational spectrum method BACKGROUND With more than 10 million new cases world-wide reported each year, cancer is one of the most devastating human diseases [1]. Despite progress in the understanding and treatment of these diseases including significant improvements in diagnostics and therapy based on applications of modern technology, the incidence and cure rates of various cancers, even in highly developed countries, have not improved significantly [2]. For this reason, increased attention has turned to complementary therapies, including natural dietary supplements. Among these natural agents, pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice has drawn a great deal of attention from both the scientific community and the general public due to its demonstrated ability to suppress cancers [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. For example, pomegranate has been found to possess well-documented cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects against prostate cancer [10][11][12][13]. The results of a Phase II clinical study of patients with rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels following surgery or radiation ...

Potential Anticancer Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruits of Different Color: In Vitro and In Silico Evidence

“…According to Nicolson et al [ 47 ], PMG small flavonoids (e.g., catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, naringenin) have strong electron-acceptor properties, making them potent inhibitors of the NF-κB pathway involved in several carcinogenic processes. In this study, the five most abundant flavonoids were phellatin, quercitrin, phlorizin, D-(+)-catechin, and corilagin ( Table S1; see Supplementary Materials ), although each PMG sample had a differential (relative abundance) flavonoid fingerprint: red [quercitrin> (-)-epicatechin], pink (phellatin, > corilagin, > astragalin), and white [D-(+)-catechin, phlorizin].…”

Cytotoxic potentials of the culture extract of the endophytic Aspergillus niger strain karmalı isolated from Punica granatum against SKOV3 and A549 cancer cell lines

“…Extracts from different parts of P. granatum have been proven useful for relieving from various ailments such as throat inflammation, coughs, periodontal disease, urinary infection, bronchitis, diarrhoea, tapeworm parasitism, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, cardiopathy etc. (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31).…”