Antiproliferative activity of peels, pulps and seeds of 61 fruits

• Antiproliferative activities of 61 fruits on four cancer cell lines were evaluated.
• The different fruits exhibited different antiproliferative capacities.
• The different parts of one fruit exhibited different antiproliferative capacities.
• Some fruits may be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
• This study supplies new information for nutritionists and the general public.

Fruits are wildly consumed and considered to have various health benefits. The aim of this study was to supply new information on the antiproliferative function of selected fruits for nutritionists and the general public. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of the peels, pulps and seeds of 61 fruits on four cancer cell lines, A549 (human lung cancer cells), MCF-7 (human breast cancer cells), HepG2 (human hepatoma cells) and HT-29 (human colon cancer cells) were evaluated by MTT assay. The results revealed that different fruits and different parts of one fruit exhibited different antiproliferative capacities. Nine of the 162 samples from 61 fruits showed remarkable inhibitory effects toward the four cancer cell lines, and all decreased the viability of the cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggested that some fruits (such as honey peach, salak, orange, and Peru ground cherry) may serve as potential dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of cancer because of strong antiproliferative activities against the cancer cell lines.