EFFECT OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM) EXTRACT ON NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA CELL LINES.

Background and Aim: Head and neck cancer is common in several regions in the world. Nowadays, natural compounds are important resources of many anticancer drugs. Punica granatum has been demonstrated to possess anticancer effects on various types of cancer cells. It is a kind of antioxidant rich fruit, as its peels and seeds have potential anticancer activities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of punica granatum extract on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines. Material and Methods: A pure extracts from seeds and peels of punica granatum were added to nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line and to normal cell line as a control group. Expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and p53 genes was evaluated. Results: Anti-proliferative effects of punica granatum demonstrated the highest cytotoxic effect against nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line after 24 hrs which increased by increasing the time of influence. We observed no anti-proliferative effects on the healthy cell line. Expression of Bax and p53 genes revealed a highly significant increase in cancer cell lines (p=0.00001) compared to normal cell line. In addition to highly significant decrease (p=0.0006) in Bcl-2 of cancer cells in comparison to normal cells. Conclusions: Punica granatum exert potent cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.