Investigating the synergistic effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract and quercetin on Calu-6 human lung carcinoma cells

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. Herbal compounds have been considered for the treatment of cancer due to anticancer effects. Peel of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has antioxidant and anticancer properties due to its phenolic compounds. Quercetin is a herbal flavonoid that can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. The present study compared the anti-proliferative effects of pomegranate’s fruit peel extract and quercetin on the calu-6 human lung carcinoma cell line and their co-effects in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of cancer cells.

Calu-6 cell line was purchased from Pasteur institute and cultured in RPMI1640 medium containing 10% FBS and 1% antibiotic. To determine the survival rate of t-cells, MTT assay was performed. Type of cell death was determined by flow cytometry, and scratch test was used to determine the migration rate of the cells.

The results showed that pomegranate fruit peel extract and quercetin inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells. Also, quercetin and pomegranate extract induced apoptosis in calu-6 cells individually and simultaneously so that the level of expression of annexin-V in quercetin and pomegranate peel extract was 18.20% and 15.59%, respectively, and increased by 25.51% during the co-treatment that difference was significant at P<0.05 The results of the scratch test also indicated that pomegranate peel extract and quercetin inhibited metastatic activity in calu-6 cells.

The results of this study showed that quercetin and pomegranate peel extract have anti-cancer effects and can be considered as a complementary medicine of lung cancer.