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Phytochemical composition of wild pomegranate juices and their cytotoxicity

Ana Topalović (Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Mirko Knežević (Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Ljubica Ivanović (Institute of Public Health of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro)
Maja Mikulic-Petkovsek ( Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Višnja Bogdanović (Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia)

Nutrition & Food Science

ISSN: 0034-6659

Article publication date: 28 August 2024

18

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between the chemical composition of juices obtained from fruits of autochthonous wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) grown in Montenegro and their cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the potential value of wild pomegranate fruits, in vitro biological assays were carried out with juices whose composition was analyzed in detail for sugars, organic acids, vitamin C and phenolic compounds. The effect of juices on survival was determined in human lung A549, cervical HeLa and breast MCF-7 carcinoma cells by MTT assay. As a control, the cytotoxicity against normal fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) was monitored.

Findings

Among cancer cell lines, considering the IC50 related to total phenolics, the lowest value – 13 µg/mL was found for the A549. The strongest effect on lung cells was assumed due to the favorable contribution of ellagitannins to total phenolics in juice as well as the given combination of anthocyanins and their synergistic action. For HeLa cells, the lowest IC50 value was obtained at 88 µg/mL, and the cytotoxicity could be matched with the effects of anthocyanins and catechin. For MCF-7 cells, the lowest IC50 was 504 µg/mL, and the elevated levels of vitamin C and ellagic acid derivatives should have a noticeable effect on these cells.

Originality/value

This study provides an important contribution to the knowledge on the effect of phytochemicals from wild pomegranate juice on lung, cervical and breast cancer cells, in vitro. The present observations suggest that the juice of wild pomegranate has the potential in the fight against cancer.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The research was partly supported by the Ministry of Science of Montenegro under a bilateral project with Slovenia – “GRANATA_MneSi” (Contract No. 01-390/2), the Horticulture Program No. P4-0013-0481 funded by the Slovenian Research Agency – ARRS (Contract No. BI-ME/18-20-021), and GEF Support to UNCCD 2018 national reporting process (Montenegro) – Umbrella IV (Contract No. GFL-11207-14AC0003-SB-009985.04.11).

Disclosure statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Citation

Topalović, A., Knežević, M., Ivanović, L., Mikulic-Petkovsek, M. and Bogdanović, V. (2024), "Phytochemical composition of wild pomegranate juices and their cytotoxicity", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-02-2024-0073

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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