• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1119-1122
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• 2016

Background: Punica granatum (PG) has been demonstrated to possess antitumor effects on various types of cancer cells. In this study, we determined antiproliferative properties of a seed extract of PG (PSE) from Iran in different human cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A methanolic extract of pomegranate seeds was prepared. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were assessed by colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined with reference to DPPH radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity of different doses of PSE (0, 5, 20, 100, 250, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) was evaluated by MTT assays with A549 (lung non small cell carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer cells), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: Significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences were observed in comparison to negative controls at all tested doses ($5-1000{\mu}g/ml$). In all studied cancer cells, PSE reduced the cell viability to values below 23%, even at the lowest doses. In all cases, IC50 was determined at doses below $5{\mu}g/ml$. In this regard, SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were the most responsive to antiproliferative effects of PSE with a maximum mean growth inhibition of 86.8% vs. 82.8%, 81.4% and 80.0% in MCF-7, PC-3 and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Low doses of PSE exert potent antiproliferative effects on different human cancer cells SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells as most and A549 cells ar least responsive regarding cytotoxic effects. However, the mechanisms of action need to be addressed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5697-5701
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• 2015

Background: Medicinal plants, especially examples rich in polyphenolic compounds, have been suggested to be chemopreventive on account of antioxidative properties. Punica granatum (PG) (pomegranate) is a well known fruit in this context, but its cytotoxicity in cancer cells has not been extensively studied. Here, we investigated the antiproliferative properties of a peel extract of PG from Iran in different human cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A methanolic extract of pomegranate peel (PPE) was prepared. Total phenolic content(TPC) and total flavonoid conetnt (TFC) were determined by colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity of different doses of PPE (0, 5, 20, 100, 250, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) was evaluated by MTT assays with A549 (lung non small cell cancer), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: Significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences were observed in comparison with negative controls at all tested doses (5-$1000{\mu}g/ml$). In all studied cancer cells, PPE reduced the cell viability to values below 40%, even at the lowest doses. In all cases, IC50 was determined at doses below $5{\mu}g/ml$. In this regard, MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells were the most responsive cells to antiprolifreative effects of PPE with a maximum mean growth inhibition of 81.0% vs. 69.4%, 79.3% and 77.5% in SKOV3, PC-3 and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Low doses of PPE exert potent anti-proliferative effects in different human cancer cells and it seems that MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells are the most cells and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells the least responsive in this regard. However, the mechanisms of action need to be addressed.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.551-555
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• 2010

Cinnamomum Iners (Darchini, 쟈 바 계피), Elettaria Cardamomum (Elachi, 백두구, 소두구, 카다몬, 카도몬), Punica Granatum (Anar Dana, 석류), Curcuma Longa (Haldi, 터메릭, 투메릭, 심황, 울금, 울금은, 컬쿠마), Piper Nigrum (Kali Mirch, 페퍼, 페퍼블랙, 후추, 블랙 페퍼), Syzygium aromaticum (Loung, 클로브, 정향, 정향나무,), Capsicum Annum (Laal Mirch, Red Pepper), Mentha Arvensis (Pahari Podina), Curcuma Zedoaria (Kachur, 가쥬츠, 봉출, 아출, 커큐머 제도) Zingiber officinale (Adrak, 건강, 생강, 진저) and Garam Masala (Hot Spice, a mixture) have been analyzed in the present work for their metallic components with the help of SEM-EDS and ICP-AES. Minor concentrations have been determined with ICP-AES and major concentrations with the help of SEM-EDS.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.417-421
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• 2012

The optimum conditions for manufacturing pomegranate makgeolli, cloudy Korean rice wine, treated with different levels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice concentrate were investigated. The pH, titratable acidity, amino acid content, soluble solid content, and alcohol content were measured, and the sensory properties of the makgeolli were evaluated. The pH, titratable acidity, soluble solid content and alcohol content of pomegranate makgeolli increased as the addition level of pomegranate juice concentrate increased. The amino acid content of makgeolli significantly decreased with increasing addition level of pomegranate juice concentrate. In the sensory evaluation, makgeolli with 3% pomegranate juice concentrate added during one-step-brewing had the most preferable flavor, sweetness, bitterness and overall acceptance among all samples. In conclusion, the addition of 3% pomegranate juice concentrate during one-step-brewing for makgeolli would be the best conditions for manufacturing pomegranate makgeolli.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-121
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• 2006

Anthracnose of pomegranate (Punica granatum) caused by Colletotrichum acutatum was observed in the exhibition field at Hamyang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, and in farmer's orchard at Gaheo-myon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam province, Korea. The pathogen generally attacks on the fruits and induces dark lesion and rotting. The infected fruits were mostly dropped or mummified. The color of colonies of the pathogenic fungus grown on potato dextrose agar was pinkish gray. Conidia were fusiform in shape and was $8{\sim}16{\times}3{\sim}4{\mu}m$ in size. Appressoria were pale to dark brown in color, clavate in shape and was $8{\sim}12{\times}4{\sim}6{\mu}m$ in size. Optimum temperature for mycelial growth was $25^{\circ}C$. Pathogenicity of the causal organism was proved according to Koch's postulate. On the basis of mycological characteristics and pathogenicity test on fruit, the fungus was identified as Colletotrichum acutatum. This is the first report on the anthracnose of pomegranate caused by C. acutatum in Korea.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 1996

This study was conducted to screen the antagonistic plants on northern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne) and to utilize those in its control. Egg hatching of M. hapla was found to be inhibited by 17 plant methanol extracts, and 11 plant extracts among them were also toxic to M. hapla second stage juvenile. Egg hatching of iW. hapla was also found to be inhibited by squeezed extracts of Cassia tora and Zea mays, and they were also toxic to M. hapla second stage juvenile. Extracts of Achyranthes japonica, Melia axedrach and Acorus graminens were toxic to M. hapla second stage with a juvenile mortality above 70clc at the 10 folds diluted concent ration and A. graminens was toxic to tested juvenile mortality above 50% at the 100 folds diluted concentration. The toxicity was directly propotional to the diluted concentration of the plant extracts and to the exposure period. Punica granatum, Acorns graminens and Melia axedrach were effective in inhibiting root penetration of JW. hapla juveniles, among of them p. granatum is most effective Percent inhibition of penetration by second and third stage juveniles into tomato slants penetrating by it was 72.7 and 82.4%, respectively.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2010

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled human intervention study involving 58 menopause women was performed to investigate the effect of pomegranate extracts on menopausal symptoms. The volunteers were randomly distributed into two groups, one taking pomegranate extracts (1.5 g/day) and the other being a placebo by taking oral administration for 8 weeks. The results from this study showed that duration of hot flush and sweating were significantly decreased by taking pomegranate extracts. In addition, menopausal rating scales and the Kuppermann index were significantly decreased in pomegranate extract taking group. This result suggests a possibility that pomegranate extracts can be helpful for menopause women.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2003

We examined methanol extracts prepared from the Korean plants for their inhibitory effects on rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) activity in vitro. Among 41 plant extracts, the extracts of Lagerstroemia indica, Punica granatum, Eurya japonica, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Vitis coignetiae exhibited highest inhibitory potency, even more potent than tetramethylene glutaric acid (TMG), known as one of typical aldose reductase inhibitors $(IC_{50}\;value,\;0.51\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Especially, the extract of Lagerstroemia indica (Lythraceae), exhibited the most inhibitory potency $(IC_{50}\;value,\;0.069\;{\mu}/ml)$ on RLAR.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.6 s.67
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• pp.951-962
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• 2004

Hot water extracts of 141 indigenous plants were screened for antibacterial activity against 7 Gram (+) and 12 Gram (-) bacteria by agar diffusion method. Of the 141 plants tested, 55 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (+) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Geranium thunbergii (Geraniaceae), Lagerstroemia indica (Lythraceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 6 strains. Of the 141 plants tested, 45 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (-) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Alnus hirsuta (Betulaceae), Magnolia kobus (Magnoliaceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 8 strains. The most active antibacterial plants were Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae) which are edible as permitted by Korea Food & Drug Adminstration. With in-depth research, the hot water extracts of these plants can be applied as food preservatives and alternatives of antimicrobials for livestock feeds.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.173-182
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• 2013

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with dysfunction of skin barrier and cutaneous hyper-reactivity to environmental triggers. In the previous study, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities were investigated for various herbal extracts such as Aloe vera L. (AV), Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM), Punica granatum L. (PG), and Dendrobium nobile L. (DN) in order to develop effective therapeutic herbal extracts for atopic dermatitis, In this study, anti-inflammatory activities of these herb extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW264.7 cells were further examined to find the underlying molecular mechanisms. The RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) analysis showed that PG, DN and AV inhibited effectively the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ in LPS-stimulated macrophages, while VM did not. The transfection and luciferase analysis exhibited that all herbal extracts hindered the activation of transcription nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). The western blot analysis indicated that AV blocked the activation of only JNK MAP (c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein) kinase not p38 MAP kinase, while VM, PG and DN did not show the activation of both JNK and p38 MAP kinases. These results suggest that AV, VM, PG, and DN have anti-inflammatory activities and thus have the potential to reduce and alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.