Sharma Pooja, McClees Sarah F, Afaq Farrukh
Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Molecules. 2017 Jan 24;22(1):177. doi: 10.3390/molecules22010177.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and those who survive cancer may experience lasting difficulties, including treatment side effects, as well as physical, cognitive, and psychosocial struggles. Naturally-occurring agents from dietary fruits and vegetables have received considerable attention for the prevention and treatment of cancers. These natural agents are safe and cost efficient in contrast to expensive chemotherapeutic agents, which may induce significant side effects. The pomegranate ( L.) fruit has been used for the prevention and treatment of a multitude of diseases and ailments for centuries in ancient cultures. Pomegranate exhibits strong antioxidant activity and is a rich source of anthocyanins, ellagitannins, and hydrolysable tannins. Studies have shown that the pomegranate fruit as well as its juice, extract, and oil exert anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-tumorigenic properties by modulating multiple signaling pathways, which suggest its use as a promising chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agent. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical studies highlighting the role of pomegranate in prevention and treatment of skin, breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers.
癌症是美国第二大死因，癌症幸存者可能会经历长期的困难，包括治疗副作用以及身体、认知和心理社会方面的挣扎。来自膳食水果和蔬菜的天然物质在癌症的预防和治疗方面受到了广泛关注。与可能会引发严重副作用的昂贵化疗药物相比，这些天然物质安全且具有成本效益。几个世纪以来，在古代文化中，石榴果实就被用于预防和治疗多种疾病和不适。石榴具有很强的抗氧化活性，富含花青素、鞣花单宁和可水解单宁。研究表明，石榴果实及其果汁、提取物和籽油通过调节多种信号通路发挥抗炎、抗增殖和抗肿瘤特性，这表明它有望成为一种化学预防/化疗药物。这篇综述总结了临床前和临床研究，突出了石榴在皮肤癌、乳腺癌、前列腺癌、肺癌和结肠癌预防及治疗中的作用。
