Planta Med 2010; 76 - P106
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1251868

Influence of Pomegranate Elalgitannins and their Intestinal Microbial Metabolites on HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells

S Kasimsetty 1, D Bialonska 2, MK Reddy 2, G Ma 1, SI Khan 1, 2, D Ferreira 1, 2
  • 1National Center for Natural Product Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA

Epidemiological evidence suggests the cancer chemopreventive properties of dietary polyphenols. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of pomegranate juice byproduct derived ellagitannins and their intestinal bacterial metabolites on CYP1 enzyme activity, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in HT-29 cells. Ellagitannins and urolithins inhibited 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin-induced CYP1-mediated ethoxy resorufin-O-deethylase activity with IC50 values ranging from 56.7µM for urolithin A to 74.8µM for urolithin C. Ellagitannins and urolithins exhibited dose- and time-dependant decrease in cell proliferation and clonogenic efficiency of HT-29 cells. Inhibition of cell proliferation was mediated through cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 and G2/M stages of cell cycle followed by induction of apoptosis. These results indicate that ellagitannins and their intestinal bacterial metabolites, that are released as a result of pomegranate juice byproduct consumption in considerable amounts, could potentially curtail the risk of colon cancer development.