“Phytochemicals from fruits such as the pomegranate may inhibit cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis through the modulation of cellular transcription factors and signaling proteins.” This is from a study that supports the use of pomegranate in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer. The authors conclude: “Therefore, the polyphenolic phytochemicals in the pomegranate can play an important role in the modulation of inflammatory cell signaling in colon cancer cells.”

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Not surprisingly, pomegranate is also shown to impair the ability of breast cancer cells to invade and spread. To quote this paper published in Integrative Cancer Therapies, this “…suggests a role for these defined extracts in lowering the metastatic potential of aggressive breast cancer species.” Interestingly, the mechanism examined was the same as the recent post for prostate cancer, the NF-kB pro-inflammatory agent. The pomegranate fruit extract “dose-dependently inhibited NF-kB—dependent reporter gene expression associated with proliferation, invasion, and motility in aggressive breast cancer phenotypes.”

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This interesting study from Molecular Cancer Therapeutics documents the inhibition of prostate cancer cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis (cell death) with pomegranate extract. Of special importance is the described association with chronic inflammation driven by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. This is involved in the transition from androgen dependence of prostate cancer cells to ones that no longer depend on male hormone stimulation. Pomegranate extract is shown to help reduce this inflammatory process.

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This paper in the journal Clinical Cancer Research reports that pomegranate juice slows rising PSA (prostate-specific antigen) after surgery or radiation for prostate cancer: “The statistically significant prolongation of PSA doubling time, coupled with corresponding laboratory effects on prostate cancer in vitro cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as oxidative stress, warrant further testing in a placebo-controlled study.”

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