Effect of punicalagin on proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells in vitro Účinok punicalagínu na proliferáciu ovariálnych granulóznych buniek ošípaných in vitro

Punicalagin is a major component responsible for pomegranate's (Punica granatum) antioxidant properties. Punicalagin is the predominant ellagitannin of Punica granatum and present in two isomeric forms: punicalagin α and β. Punicalagin is metabolised to ellagic acid (antioxidant) and microorganisms present in colon can metabolize ellagic acid to urolithins. The aim of in vitro study was to examine the effect of punicalagin on mitochondrial activity and markers of proliferation in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. The cells were cultivated during 24h without (control group) and with various doses (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg*ml) of pomegranate compound – punicalagin. MTT assay and immunocytochemistry were used in this study. Stimulatory influence of punicalagin on the mitochondrial activity of ovarian granulosa cells at concentrations 1 μg*ml was found. Punicalagin (at 1 μg*ml) had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on the presence of proliferative markers cyclin B1 (increase) and PCNA proliferating cell nuclear antigen (decrease) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. These results suggest dose-dependent effect of punicalagin on cell proliferation. Further verification of possible role of punicalagin in proliferation is therefore needed.