Comparative Study of Ellagic Acid and Its Analogues as Chemopreventive Agents against Lung Tumorigenesis

The polyphenol ellagic acid inhibits lung tumorigenesis induced by a nicotine-derived nitrosamine in A/J mice. This inhibition was related to the logarithm of the dose of ellagic acid added to the diet. The biodistribution of ellagic acid was studied in mice gavaged with ellagic acid. Pulmonary levels of ellagic acid reach a maximum 30 min after gavage and were directly proportional to the dose between 0.2 and 2.0 mmol EA/kg b.w. Ellagitannins extracted from pomegranate are hydrolyzed extensively in mice leading to the excretion of ellagic acid in the feces and urine. Feeding mice pomegranate ellagitannins (10 g/kg diet) did not inhibit lung tumorigenesis.