Extraction of phenolic compounds from the shells of pecan nuts with cytotoxic activity through apoptosis against the colon cancer cell line HT-29.

The water extraction of phenolic compounds from two varieties ("Mahan" and "Marameck") of pecan nutshells (Carya illinoinensis) without and with sonication, varying the solvent/solid ratio (S), the pH, and the refluxing time (t), was studied. Additionally, the in vitro cytotoxicity and the determination of the cell death mechanism of the extracts against the colon cancer cell line HT-29 were investigated. The content of total phenolic compounds (TPC) of "Marameck" nutshells resulted higher than for the "Mahan" variety, and the pH increase resulted in higher TPC contents for both cultivars.