Apoptosis Induction of Punica Granatum Extract on Human Lung Cancer Cells

The present study evaluated the ability of methanolic extract of punica granatum to induce apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines.A549 cells emerged as the most sensitive cell line for in-vitro growth inhibitory activity. A total of 50-60% confluent cells were treated with Punica granatum rind extract and their fraction for 48 hrs in complete growth medium. The ethyl acetate fraction induces uppermost cell death in the A549 cells which indicate the maximum growth inhibition. Ethyl acetate fraction of punica granatum extract induces apoptosis in A549 cells as indicated by nuclear condensation and increased annexin staining. It is possible that the use of punica granatum rind extract as a component in herbal medicines could be justifiable.