Interesting Facts about Pomegranate
Source : Giffarine Thailand
Pomegranate
(Punica granatum L.)
Pomegranate is a beautiful fruit with wonderful smell. Although pomegranate is found in Thailand, the origin of this plant is Persian (now Iran). In the history, pomegranate is a sacred fruit and is used as medicine since 8,000 years ago. The ancient Persians believe that pomegranate contains all nutritional value found in other fruits. Pomegranate is widely cultivated and its products are well-known worldwide. Several antioxidants such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, ellagic acid derivatives and hydrolysable tannins are found in shell, seed and juice of pomegranate.
Benefits on Pomegranate in Persian Traditional Medicine
Pomegranate fruits contain several vitamins, magnesium and calcium, which have benefits for cardiovascular and circulation system. The Persian medical book, which is commonly regarded as the origin of Western medicine, indicates several benefits of pomegranate.
Proven Medical Benefits of Pomegranate from Biomedical Research
1. Pomegranate consists of several effective antioxidants(1).
2. Decrease the risk of ischemic heart disease in mice and humans by reducing lipid accumulation at blood vessel walls as well as preventing atherosclerosis and hardening of blood vessels(2, 3).
3. Reduce the thickening of atherosclerotic vessels and lipid accumulation in mice(4).
4. Act as a cardiotonic agent in ischemic heart disease by increasing blood flow. Reduce the ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease(5).
5. Two weeks after drinking 50 cc of pomegranate juice, there was a slight reduction of blood pressure in 5% of hypertensive patients(6).
6. Nourishing the liver and protecting it from toxins (hepatoprotective effect)(7).
7. The antioxidants in pomegranate juice inhibit human breast cancer cells(8).
8. The pomegranate extract helps inhibit the division and the spread of human prostate cancer cells(9) and there is a research that recommends eating pomegranate fruits to prevent prostate cancers(10).
Referenece :
1. Studies on the antioxidant activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel and seed extracts using in vitro models. J Agric Food Chem 2002 Jan 2;50(1):81-6
2. Pomegranate juice supplementation to atherosclerotic mice reduces macrophage lipid peroxidation, cellular cholesterol accumulation and development of atherosclerosis. J Nutr 2001 Aug;131(8):2082-9
3. Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice and in humans. Drugs Exp Clin Res 2002;28(2-3):49-62
4. Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL, and platelet aggregation: studies in humans and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Am J Clin Nutr 2000 May;71(5):1062-76
5. Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on myocardial perfusion in patients with coronary heart disease. Am J Cardiol. 2005 Sep 15;96(6):810-4
6. Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure. Atherosclerosis 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8
7. Studies on antioxidant activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract using in vivo models. J Agric Food Chem 2002 Aug 14;50(17):4791-5
8. Chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) for human breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2002 Feb;71(3):203-17
9. Pomegranate extracts potently suppress proliferation, xenograft growth, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells. J Med Food. 2004 Fall;7(3):274-83.
10. Prostate cancer prevention through pomegranate fruit. Cell Cycle. 2006 Feb;5(4):371-3. Epub 2006 Feb 15.
