In vitro study on anticancer activity of pomegranate fruit extract in lymphocytes of breast cancer patients

Objective:The focal aim of the present study was to investigate the antigenotoxic activities of Pomegranate Fruit Extract (PFE) in human lymphocytes of breast cancer patients in vitro. Methodology:Chromosome aberration (CA) assay were performed. Ten venous blood samples were collected from breast cancer patients who attended the Valavadi Narayanasamy Cancer Centre, G. Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital, Coimbatore. Four extracts were analyzed for the genotoxicity. Results: Out of the four, methanol extract was found to reduce chromatid type aberration (CTA) and chromosome type aberration (CSA) (34.31±4.81) followed by chloroform extract (5.3 ±2.02). However, petroleum ether extract showed a minimum inhibition (2.9±1.03) and the percentage of inhibition with respect to water extract was found to be nil. The results indicates gradual decrease in the number of CTA in the experimental samples with methanolic extract (5.75 ± 1.5) when compared to control (8.75±3.59) (p=0.01). Meanwhile, CSA also found to reduce significantly in the experimental sample (3.25±1.5) compared to control samples (5.25±2.06) (p=0.01). When total CA (Chromosome aberration) was taken into account, decrease in the experimental samples (9±2.45) compared to that of control samples (13.25±3.40) was found. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the possibility of reduction of CA (Chromosome aberration) and thereby reducing carcinogenicity in people who consume pomegranate regularly. Hence the active ingredients of pomegranate fruits can be recommended for drug formulation.