| dc.description.abstract | Phytochemicals of fruits and vegetables have
anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative
properties. In Sri Lanka, parts of the
native Pomegranate tree, “Delum” (fruit, barks
and leaves) are used in ayurvedic medicine as a
treatment for cancers. Nevertheless, the scientific
basis of these treatments are not yet explored.
Anti-proliferative activity was assessed with
MTT assay for Human Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD)
after 24 h exposure to the Pomegranate fruit
peel and pericarp extracts. The cell morphology
was recorded comparative to the positive
(Cycloheximide) and negative controls (untreated
cells). The aqueous extract of Pomegranate peel
exhibited significant cytotoxicity (p < 0.05) than
pericarp, against RD cells. After 24 h incubation
at a 50% viability of RD cells, the required
concentration of peel extract (EC50) was exhibited
as 7.2±1.0, 9.2±0.6, 9.2±0.3, 10.6±0.8 and 10.7±1.1
for sonication extraction, sonication followed by
microwaving, microwave assisted extraction,
heating in a 50°C water bath and boiling with
electric burner extraction methods respectively.
The peel extract obtained by the sonication
method exhibited the lowest EC50 value. In
contrast, pericarp extracts revealed a higher EC50
values than peel extracts. Therefore, we conclude
that Sonication as an extraction method exerted
a higher anti-proliferative activity comparative to
the other extraction methods. | en_US |
