The Efficacy of Pomegranate Extract (Punica granatum L.) and Ellagic Acid on the Expression of VEGF and Oral Cancer Cells Apoptosis of Mus musculus Due to Benzopyrene Induction

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world. In Indonesia in 2013 it reached 1.4% or an estimated 347,792 people and became the cause of death number seven. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in the oral cavity, the patient’s survival is less than 50%. Until now complete cancer treatment has not been done while every year new cases continue to emerge, despite advances in the field of surgical therapy, radiation, chemotherapy is growing rapidly. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)/PgL, is one of the plants with the active ingredient Ellagic Acid (EA), which has anti-cancer activity in vitro. There has not known the effectiveness of Pomegranate if given in whole extract or Ellagic acid isolation. Purpose of this study was to prove the effect of Pomegranate extract (Punica granatum L./PgL) and Ellagic Acid on the expression of VEGF and oral cancer cells apoptosis of Mus musculus due to benzopyrene induction. 24 mice (Balb / c), males, 5 months old, were divided randomly into 3 groups, namely: K0: not induced by benzopyrene, but not given PgL and EA; K1: benzopyrene induced, not given PgL and EA; P1: benzopyrene induced and given EA; P2: benzopyrene induced and given PgL. Benzopirene at a dose of 0.04 mg was dissolved in 0.04 mL olivarum oil, given 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The application of PgL and EA at a dose of 75 mg/kg BW/day for 4 weeks. Examination of VEGF expression by immunohistochemical techniques, while cell apoptosis with tunnel assay. There was significant difference in VEGF expression between all groups (p = 0.006), also in cancer cell apoptosis there were significant differences between all groups (p = 0.001). Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract was more effective to decrease VEGF expression and increase apoptosis cancer cell than Ellagic acid on Mus musculus which inducted by benzopyrene.