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Published on: July 5, 2017
Pomegranate as a functional food and nutraceutical source
Suzanne D Johanningsmeier1, G Keith Harris
1USDA-ARS Food Science Research Unit Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA. sdjohann@ncsu.edu
Pomegranate consumption shows promise for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and prostate cancer due to its antioxidant polyphenols. Further research is needed to understand how pomegranate compounds are metabolized for in vivo benefits.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
- Food Science
Background:
- Pomegranate is a functional food and nutraceutical with studied health effects.
- Its juice and extracts are investigated for chronic disease prevention.
- Polyphenols like punicalagins are key contributors to pomegranate's antioxidant activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the health effects of pomegranate consumption.
- To identify bioactive compounds responsible for pomegranate's health benefits.
- To understand the metabolic fate of pomegranate's bioactive compounds in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Review of human clinical trials on pomegranate's health effects.
- Analysis of in vitro antioxidant activity studies.
- Investigation of polyphenol content and metabolism.
Main Results:
- Human trials show promising results for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and prostate cancer.
- High polyphenolic content, including punicalagins, contributes to in vitro antioxidant activity.
- Metabolism yields ellagic acid and urolithins, suggesting a difference between in vitro and in vivo active compounds.
Conclusions:
- Pomegranate exhibits potential health benefits, particularly against chronic diseases.
- Understanding the metabolism of pomegranate's bioactive compounds is crucial for elucidating its in vivo effects.
- Further characterization of pomegranate components and their physiological fate is warranted.
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