Multifunctional bioactivity of ellagic acid and pomegranate oil: selective anticancer in melanoma models

Melasma and skin cancer require effective and safe topical treatments. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential cytotoxic and antioxidant effects attributed to exposure to ellagic acid (EA) and pomegranate oil (PO) using human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and melanoma cell lines (A375 and B16F10). Cell viability assay (MTT) demonstrated that EA and PO (5% or 10%) were not cytotoxic to HaCaT cells at 24 hr, but induced significant time-dependent cytotoxicity in melanoma cells after 72 hr. In DCFH-DA assay, PO exhibited greater potential in mitigating production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in melanoma cells, while EA was more effective in promoting generation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), a mechanism associated with antineoplastic activity. Thus, EA and PO, especially at concentrations of 5% or 10%, may be considered promising and safe bioactive candidates for dermocosmetic formulations, combining selective cytotoxicity against melanoma cells with valuable antioxidant properties. Furthermore, phytotoxicity assays revealed no adverse environmental effects, with EA even showing a biostimulant profile.