21 replies to this topic

[snowbell]

Could anyone share their experience with Pomegranate extract or juice ? What exactly is it used for ? Any benefits or side effects ?

[niner]

There was a big buzz about it a few years ago. It was said to be helpful for atherosclerosis. There were some active threads here; you could try a search.

[albedo]

No particular experience to report. You might wish to check the last June 2012 article in LEF Magazine:"Fight Heart Disease by Activating a Protective Enzyme"
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/jun2012_Fight-Heart-Disease-Activating-Protect-Enzyme_01.htm

[tlm884]

I did some research into pomegranate concentrate a few weeks ago in regards to hypertension. Pomegranate concentrate was shown to reduce blood pressure after two weeks using 2oz a day. I did a quick google scholar search and found lots of information about pomegranate extract.

Antioxidant Activities of Pomegranate Fruit Extract and Its Anthocyanidins:  Delphinidin, Cyanidin, and Pelargonidin


Yasuko Noda,*^† Takao Kaneyuki,^‡ Akitane Mori,^†§ and Lester Packer^†‖
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, and Department of Nutritional Science, Okayama Prefectural University, Okayama, Japan


Abstract

Antioxidant activities of freeze-dried preparations of a 70% acetone extract of pomegranate (

Punica granatum

L.) and its three major anthocyanidins (delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin) were evaluated. Free radical scavenging activities were examined using an ESR technique with spin trapping; DMPO for hydroxyl (·OH) and superoxide (O

₂^·-

) radicals; and [(MGD)

₂

Fe

²⁺

] for nitric oxide (NO). Inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation were estimated by the levels of malonaldehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals in rat brain homogenates. Pomegranate extract exhibited scavenging activity against ·OH and O

₂^·-

. Anthocyanidins inhibited a Fenton reagent ·OH generating system possibly by chelating with ferrous ion. Anthocyanidins scavenged O

₂^·-

in a dose-dependent manner. The ID

₅₀

values of delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin were 2.4, 22, and 456 μM, respectively. In contrast, anthocyanidins did not effectively scavenge NO. Anthocyanidins inhibited H

₂

O

₂

-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat brain homogenates. The ID

₅₀

values of delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin for them were 0.7, 3.5, and 85 μM, respectively. These findings suggest that the above anthocyanidins contribute to the antioxidant activity of pomegranate fruits.

Consumption of hydrolyzable tannins-rich pomegranate extract suppresses inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis



Abstract

Objective

Although consumption of dietary supplements containing pomegranate extract (POMx) by patients with arthritis is on the rise, the efficacy of such preparations in suppressing joint inflammation and damage is not known. The present study was designed to evaluate a standardized preparation of POMx using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a widely used animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods

CIA-susceptible DBA/1 mice were fed POMx by gavage before and after immunization with chicken type II collagen. Severity of clinical arthritis was scored using a visual scoring system. Arthritic joints were analyzed by histopathology and graded. Lysates were generated from mouse joints and levels of anti–type II collagen immunoglobulin G and inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of POMx on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production was determined by Griess reaction and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was studied by western immunoblotting in mouse macrophages.
Results

Consumption of POMx potently delayed the onset and reduced the incidence of CIA in mice. Severity of arthritis was also significantly lower in POMx-fed animals. Histopathology of the arthritic joints from POMx-fed mice demonstrated reduced joint infiltration by the inflammatory cells, and the destruction of bone and cartilage were alleviated. Levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased in the joints of POMx-fed mice with CIA. In mouse macrophages, POMx abrogated multiple signal transduction pathways and downstream mediators implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusion

Our studies suggest that inhibition of a spectrum of signal transduction pathways and the downstream pathogenic cellular response by POMx or compounds derived from it may be a useful approach for the prevention of the onset and severity of inflammatory arthritis.

Ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract inhibits angiogenesis
in prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo
MARYAM R. SARTIPPOUR
1
, NAVINDRA P. SEERAM1
, JIAN YU RAO
2
, AUNE MORO
1
,
DIANE M. HARRIS
1
, SUSANNE M. HENNING
1
, AMITA FIROUZI
1
, MATTHEW B. RETTIG
3,4,5
,
WILLIAM J. ARONSON
4,5
, ALLAN J. PANTUCK
4
and DAVID HEBER
1

Abstract. Angiogenesis is critical to tumor growth and is
stimulated by tissue hypoxia due to poor oxygen delivery. In
turn, cellular hypoxia leads to angiogenesis via the induction
of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at a cellular level. Pomegranate
juice and extracts, which are rich sources of ellagitannins,
have been shown to have chemopreventive potential against
prostate cancer, but there have been no studies on the effects
of an ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract on angiogenesis.
Human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) and human umbilical
ve in endothe l i a l c e l l s (HUVEC) we r e incuba t ed wi th a
pomegranate extract standardized to ellagitannin content
(POMx), under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro.
Human prostate cancer cells (LAPC4) were injected subcutaneously into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)
mice and the effects of oral administration of POMx on tumor
growth, microvessel density, and HIF-1α and VEGF expression
were determined after 4 weeks of treatment. POMx inhibited
the proliferation of LNCaP and HUVEC cells significantly
under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. HIF-1α and
VEGF protein levels were also reduced by POMx under
hypoxic conditions. POMx decreased prostate cancer xenograft
size, tumor vessel density, VEGF peptide levels and HIF-1α
expression after 4 weeks of treatment in SCID mice. These
results demonstrate that an ellagitannin-rich pomegranate
extract can inhibit tumor-associated angiogenesis as one of
several potential mechanisms for slowing the growth of
prostate cancer in chemopreventive applications. Further
studies in humans are needed to confirm that angiogenesis
can be inhibited by an ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract
administered orally as a dietary supplement.

[snowbell]

Thanks so much ! Do you have any experience with it ? How is it compared to other antioxidants like Grape seed extract ? I have tried Grape seed extract but didn't notice much from it.

[niner]

Thanks so much ! Do you have any experience with it ? How is it compared to other antioxidants like Grape seed extract ? I have tried Grape seed extract but didn't notice much from it.

Generally speaking, people don't notice much from antioxidants. There can be exceptions in the case of compounds with other activities that also happen to be antioxidants, like pycnogenol or resveratrol. Mostly, though, antioxidants protect you from free radical damage, but I don't think that's something that you can usually feel in the short term.

[snowbell]

What about skin anti-aging benefits ? I read online that Pomegranate extract is good for skin as well. There are so many antioxidants available like beta carotene, vitamin C, grape seed, lycopene, etc...how do we know which one is better than the other ?

[tlm884]

I haven't taken PomX. I would have to ship PomX in from Caliofrnia or buy Pomegranate concentrate online. I can get Pom juice here but the price is prohibitive. Its 6CAD for less then 500ml.

[snowbell]

I agree. The juice is quite expensive.

[nameless]

If trying Pom, just be aware of possible drug interactions. It seemed to make my blood pressure a bit too low sometimes.
That could have been directly from the pom itself, or an interaction with medication I am taking (probably both).

As Niner mentioned, it's unlikely you'll feel anything from antioxidants (besides perhaps lowered BP in Pom's case). I rarely have felt anything from most supplements I've tried. Just don't go crazy with dosing, and I wouldn't take tons of them daily either. Most antioxidants you can get in food if you eat your veggies + some fruits/berries.

Edited by nameless, 06 June 2012 - 06:15 PM.

[snowbell]

I have felt low blood pressure with Grape Seed extract as well....mainly dizziness. I hope that won't be the case with pomegranate. I was looking for some skin anti-aging benefits also since I have read that anti-oxidants could slow down aging.

[tlm884]

I dont know if this is the case in the US but tonight I seen Pom juice for 3 dollars at Walmart for 500ml versus the 5 dollars I was paying at Sobeys. I think moderation is key with antioxidants, the body does need a certain level of oxidation in order for certain mechanisms to become active such as DNA repair mechanisms, destruction of foreign organism, etc. I think half a glass or a full of glass of Pom 4 or 5 times a week would suffice.

As well, I have seen research showing that Pox juice contains more antioxidants than home juiced pomegranates. It was believed that their propriety extraction of juice resulted in more of the skin being juiced as well increasing antioxidants.

[Mind]

The whole anti-oxidant marketing thingy has gotten out of control. I don't have the threads handy right now, but I know there has been some discussion about constantly bombarding your body with exogenous anti-oxidants and that it is bad in the long run. Our bodies do produce and need some free radical ("oxidant") molecules for proper functioning, growth, and healing. If you are totally hyped-up/overdosed on anti-oxidants all day long, you are probably causing more harm than good.

Anyway, here is a very good older thread about pomegranate juice vs extract. Check it out.

[amark]

Been a while since I have posted anything. Yesterday a friend who is in her 60s and had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke about 7 months ago. I suggested that she drink 8 oz of pomegranate juice based on work done on men who after a year had a 34% reduction of carotid plaque. She messaged me that she had the test done and her reduction was 40%. I buy the stuff at Costco since they sell the biggest bottle for the best price i could find.   I do this too. sure its anecdotal but it supports the scientific findings. 

 

Risk to reward def ssays drink this unless people in your family live very long lives and don't need to drink it to achieve cardiac benefits.

 

[Kevnzworld]

Been a while since I have posted anything. Yesterday a friend who is in her 60s and had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke about 7 months ago. I suggested that she drink 8 oz of pomegranate juice based on work done on men who after a year had a 34% reduction of carotid plaque. She messaged me that she had the test done and her reduction was 40%. I buy the stuff at Costco since they sell the biggest bottle for the best price i could find.   I do this too. sure its anecdotal but it supports the scientific findings. 
 
Risk to reward def ssays drink this unless people in your family live very long lives and don't need to drink it to achieve cardiac benefits.
 

The problem with pomegranate juice is the sugar content. Humans evolved eating fruit, not fruit juice. Buy the polyphenol capsule instead, Pom or whatever.

[platypus]

The problem with pomegranate juice is the sugar content. Humans evolved eating fruit, not fruit juice. Buy the polyphenol capsule instead, Pom or whatever.

 

Yes, and it took thousands of years of breeding to get the sugar-levels up to current levels. 

[timar]

Pomegranate extract and juice are two very different things. The extracts contains most things the juice lacks and vice versa. The healthist part of the pomegranate is not the pulp or the juice extracted from it, but the extremely bitter white mesocarp, which contains more than 90% of the pomegranates' polyphenols (the ellagitannins in particular). This is why I always recommend to eat some of the mesocarp together with the seeds if you can tolerate the bitterness (I actually love that contrast of sweetness and bitterness on the tongue). Speaking of the seeds, you definitely want to chew them, as the seed contain high levels of a rare fatty acid, punicic acid (or conjugated linolenic acid), fiber and other beneficial compounds peculiar to the seeds.

 

So in my opinion both the pulp extracts and the juice are fine (as long it is 100% pure unsweetened pomegranate juice consumed in moderation) but, as so often, nothing beats eating the whole fruit - and pomegranates are a particular good example for that wisdom.

 

 

Edited by timar, 11 April 2014 - 12:30 PM.

[timar]

Note that I meant trester, not pulp extracts. The extracts are made from trester that remains as a waste material after industrially juicing the pomegranates and contain mostly the polyphenols from the the skins and mesocarp. Here's a patent describing how such extracts are produced with water as solvent (if you are daft enough, you can actually follow the instructions to make your own extract) and here's another patent application for such an extract as an IL-6 and CD36 inhibitory, anti-inflammatory agent.

Edited by timar, 11 April 2014 - 02:02 PM.

[Dolph]

Note that I meant trester, not pulp extracts. The extracts are made from trester that remains as a waste material after industrially juicing the pomegranates and contain mostly the polyphenols from the the skins and mesocarp. 

 

It should be mentioned that those tannins the extract contains can AND WILL give you the worst constipation EVER if you use enough of it!  

So never forget adding some additional flaxseed which have the advantage of getting some probably pretty healthy flax lignans into the mix.

[normalizing]

pomegranate juice makes parkinson much worse;  http://www.nutraingr...-s-in-rat-model

another study showed it makes cancer worse too, but i cant find the article now

[joelcairo]

I looked for the cancer study you refer to, but couldn't find it among the dozens if not hundreds of studies suggesting that pomegranate juice is anticancer. Excessive sugar or not, it seems to provide a net benefit.

 

[Flex]

Always consider possible Blood thinning inteactions or even accumulation between Bloodthinners or other supplements when taking supplements. It could be fatal

http://www.livestron...on-blood-clots/

Edited by Flex, 18 April 2014 - 06:22 AM.