Pomegranate extract induces cell cycle arrest and alters cellular phenotype of human pancreatic cancer cells

Background: Pomegranate extract (PE) is a standardized whole-fruit extract of pomegranate, a fruit with known anticancer properties. Materials and Methods: PANC-1 and AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells were used as in vitro models to test the effects of PE. Results: PE treatment induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation in PANC-1 cells. PE treatment increased the proportion of cells lacking CD44 and CD24 expression, which are associated with increased tumor-initiating ability, demonstrating that PE altered cell phenotype. PE was more effective in inhibiting the proliferation of PANC-1 cells than the clinically used dose of paclitaxel. Similar results were obtained in the AsPC-1 cell line. Individual pomegranate phytochemicals were only modestly effective in inhibiting cell proliferation, suggesting that unidentified phytochemicals are responsible for the inhibitory effect of PE. Conclusion: These data suggest that PE is a promising candidate for further preclinical testing for treatment of human pancreatic cancer.