Antioxidant Properties of Punica grantum Fruit rind extract against liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma studied in HEPG2 Cell Line

Punica granatum (Pg), commonly known as pomegranate (Pg), is a member of the monogeneric family, Punicaceae. Punica granatum possess various pharmacological and toxicological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines), anti-cancer and anti-angiogenesis activities. In the present study an attempt has been made to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Punica granatum fruit rind extract against liver cancer using HepG2 cell line. SOD, GPx and catalase activities which were higher in untreated hepatoma cells, were reduced significantly when fruits rind extract at concentrations of 200–500 ug/ml was introduced into the culture. Fruits rind extract acts as antioxidants in eliminating the superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in the HepG2 hepatoma cell line. However, Fruits rind extract had no effect on the levels of GSH and MDA contents of HepG2 cells at all concentrations. The results of the present study indicate the antioxidant activity of Punica granatum fruit rind extract which might be attributed to its phytochemical components most especially flavonoids and phenols.