Effect of pomegranate (punica granatum) extract on MDA-MB-231 cell line

Cancer is a multifactorial disease that affects morbidity and mortality worldwide. While breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, it is the second most common type of cancer worldwide after lung cancer. The cancer-protective effects of bioactive agents in foods have been supported by epidemiological studies. If this is proven to be valid for breast cancer as well, it will be ensured that non-toxic natural preservatives are used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) is a valuable fruit that contains phytochemicals and is used in promoting human health, preventing and treating various chronic diseases. In this study, the effect of the extract obtained from the pomegranate (Punica Granatum) bark on MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated. In the study, MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into control, 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) peel groups. MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated for 24 and 48 hours at 37°C with 5% CO2. At the end of the incubation periods, cell viability / apoptosis and cell cycle status of MDA-MB-231 cells were examined in the Muse Cell Analyzer device. When the results were evaluated, it was observed that cell viability decreased in the groups treated with pomegranate peel extract compared to the control group. The group in which apoptosis was observed with the highest value was 50 µg/ml pomegranate peel extract group (p<0.05). In the cell cycle test, the number of cells in the G0/G1 stage was significantly higher in the 25 µg/ml pomegranate peel extract group compared to the control and 50 µg/ml pomegranate peel extract groups at the end of the 24-hour incubation period (p<0.05). The results of other studies in the literature and the result of this study reveal that the widespread consumption of pomegranate peel may be effective in preventing the formation of cancers and slowing their progression.