| POMEGRANATE SIDE EFFECTS |
NEWS Recently, scientists at the University of Wisconsin tested
pomegranate juice on laboratory cultures of human prostate cancer
cells. They found pomegranate juice might ward off prostate cancer.
The scientists found that pomegranate extracts killed the cancer cells in
a dose-dependent way. The higher the dose of pomegranate juice, the
more cancer cells died. In a study, 24 mice were divided into three
groups: one was given normal water to drink, while the others had
their water supplemented with 0.1% or 0.2% of pomegranate juice.
The results were dramatic. Cancer progression was significantly slowed
in mice receiving the higher pomegranate dose. Their blood contained
decreased levels of prostate-specific antigen, a marker commonly used
to monitor prostate cancer. [1]
POMEGRANATE HEALTH BENEFITS
Pomegranates [Punica granatum], which are native to the Middle East,
are packed with healthy anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
The potent antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic activities of PJ are
attributed to its polyphenols including punicalagin, the major fruit
ellagitannin, and ellagic acid. It is also a good source of ascorbic acid.
[11]
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITES
Oxidative damage is related to the development of several chronic
diseases, such as age-related neurodegeneration, carcinogenesis and
atherosclerosis. Pomegranate packed with multiple potent antioxidants
may have benefits against these chronic diseases. [2]
The health benefits attributed to the consumption of Pomegranate and
its extracts are related to their antioxidant activity. Studies have shown
the inverse relationship between the intake of Pomegranate extracts
(or its juice) and cardiovascular diseases. And, this could be related to
pomegranate polyphenols' ability to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
oxidation, macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. [3,6]
Two possible pathways may be involved in the LDL oxidation inhibition:
(1) a direct interaction of the polyphenols with the lipoprotein or/and
(2) an indirect effect through accumulation of polyphenols in arterial
macrophages.
Pomegranate juice was shown to mediate suppression of oxidized LDL
degradation and of cholesterol biosynthesis in macrophages can lead
to reduce cellular cholesterol accumulation and foam cell formation. [6]
Consequently, dietary supplementation of polyphenol-rich pomegranate
juice to atherosclerotic mice significantly inhibited the development of
atherosclerotic lesions and this may be attributed to the protection of
LDL against oxidation. [3]
A recent research study has also shown that long-term oral
administration of pomegranate flower extract (500 mg kg(-1)) reduces
cardiac triglyceride content and decreases plasma levels of triglyceride
and total cholesterol in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Pomegranate
flower extract exerts this effect probably via inhibition of increased
cardiac FA uptake and oxidation in the diabetic condition. [8]
CORONARY HEART DISEASES
As discussed in previous sections, pomegranate juice or its extracts
contain antioxidants such as soluble polyphenols, tannins, and
anthocyanins and may have benefits on atherosclerosis. Daily
consumption of pomegranate juice may have benefits in patients who
have coronary heart diseases. In a double-blind study, researchers
supplied pomegranate juice daily to 45 patients suffered from coronary
heart disease and myocardial ishemia for 3 months. Based on the data
of tomographic scintigraphy, blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, weight, or
blood pressure, the researchers concluded that pomegranate juice
decreased the extent of stress-induced ischemia. [5]
BLOOD PRESSURE
As discussed, pomegranate juice can offer benefits against
cardiovascular diseases via its anti-oxidant activities. Researchers
further found that pomegranate juice consumption could also reduce
the systolic blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This effect is in a
dose-dependent fashion and related to a change of angiotensin
converting enzyme activity. [12]
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Researchers have previously reported anticancer effects of
pomegranate extracts in human breast cancer cells in vitro and also
anti-cancer activity of pomegranate fermented juice polyphenols in a
mouse mammary organ culture. [13]
In a recent study, at 100 microg/ml, pomegranate juice, ellagic acid,
punicalagin and total pomegranate tannin were found to be able to
induce apoptosis in HT-29 colon cells. However, in the HCT116 colon
cells, ellagic acid, punicalagin and total pomegranate tannin but not
pomegranate juice induced apoptosis. [7]
ANTI-BACTERIA ACTIVITIES
Pomegranate extracts may have benefits on prevention of certain
diseases induced by bbacterial diseases. Low dose of pomegranate
extract concentration was found to delay Staphylococcus aureus
growth, while high doses even eliminated Staphylococcus aureus
growth. [9]
In addition, methanolic pomegranate extracts has been shown to
dramatically enhance the activity of certain antibiotics tested.
Researchers evaluated the synergic activity between pomegranate
extracts and antibiotics against 30 clinical isolates of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus.They detected the synergic activities between
pomegranate extracts and the 5 antibiotics tested, chloramphenicol,
gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and oxacillin, ranging from 38% to
73%. Pomegranate extracts increased the post-antibiotic effect of
ampicillin from 3 to 7 h. [4]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. DO NOT COPY OR TRANSFER THIS
ARTICLE TO OTHER WEB-SITE OR OTHER TYPE OF PUBLICATION. ALL RIGHT
RESERVED 2005 zhion inc.
REFERENCE
[1] Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Early Edition September
26, 2005. [2] Blomhoff R Antioxidants and oxidative stress Tidsskr Nor
Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. [3] Aviram M et al, 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] Braga LC et al, Synergic interaction between
pomegranate extract and antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus. Can J
Microbiol. 2005 Jul;51(7):541-7. [5] Sumner MD et al, 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] Fuhrman B et al,
Pomegranate juice inhibits oxidized LDL uptake and cholesterol biosynthesis in
macrophages. J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Sep;16(9):570-6. [7] Seeram NP et al, In
vitro antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidant activities of punicalagin, ellagic
acid and a total pomegranate tannin extract are enhanced in combination with
other polyphenols as found in pomegranate juice. J Nutr Biochem. 2005
Jun;16(6):360-7. [8] Huang TH et al, Pomegranate flower improves cardiac lipid
metabolism in a diabetic rat model: role of lowering circulating lipids. Br J
Pharmacol. 2005 Jul;145(6):767-74. [9] raga LC et al, Pomegranate extract
inhibits Staphylococcus aureus growth and subsequent enterotoxin production. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;96(1-2):335-9. [10] Igea JM et al, Adverse reaction
to pomegranate ingestion. Allergy. 1991 Aug;46(6):472-4. [11] Perez-Vicente A
et al, In vitro gastrointestinal digestion study of pomegranate juice phenolic
compounds, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Apr
10;50(8):2308-12. [12] Aviram M et al, Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits
serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood
pressure. Atherosclerosis. 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8. [13] Mehta R et al, Breast
cancer chemopreventive properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit
extracts in a mouse mammary organ culture Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004
Aug;13(4):345-8.
pomegranate juice on laboratory cultures of human prostate cancer
cells. They found pomegranate juice might ward off prostate cancer.
The scientists found that pomegranate extracts killed the cancer cells in
a dose-dependent way. The higher the dose of pomegranate juice, the
more cancer cells died. In a study, 24 mice were divided into three
groups: one was given normal water to drink, while the others had
their water supplemented with 0.1% or 0.2% of pomegranate juice.
The results were dramatic. Cancer progression was significantly slowed
in mice receiving the higher pomegranate dose. Their blood contained
decreased levels of prostate-specific antigen, a marker commonly used
to monitor prostate cancer. [1]
POMEGRANATE HEALTH BENEFITS
Pomegranates [Punica granatum], which are native to the Middle East,
are packed with healthy anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
The potent antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic activities of PJ are
attributed to its polyphenols including punicalagin, the major fruit
ellagitannin, and ellagic acid. It is also a good source of ascorbic acid.
[11]
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITES
Oxidative damage is related to the development of several chronic
diseases, such as age-related neurodegeneration, carcinogenesis and
atherosclerosis. Pomegranate packed with multiple potent antioxidants
may have benefits against these chronic diseases. [2]
The health benefits attributed to the consumption of Pomegranate and
its extracts are related to their antioxidant activity. Studies have shown
the inverse relationship between the intake of Pomegranate extracts
(or its juice) and cardiovascular diseases. And, this could be related to
pomegranate polyphenols' ability to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
oxidation, macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. [3,6]
Two possible pathways may be involved in the LDL oxidation inhibition:
(1) a direct interaction of the polyphenols with the lipoprotein or/and
(2) an indirect effect through accumulation of polyphenols in arterial
macrophages.
Pomegranate juice was shown to mediate suppression of oxidized LDL
degradation and of cholesterol biosynthesis in macrophages can lead
to reduce cellular cholesterol accumulation and foam cell formation. [6]
Consequently, dietary supplementation of polyphenol-rich pomegranate
juice to atherosclerotic mice significantly inhibited the development of
atherosclerotic lesions and this may be attributed to the protection of
LDL against oxidation. [3]
A recent research study has also shown that long-term oral
administration of pomegranate flower extract (500 mg kg(-1)) reduces
cardiac triglyceride content and decreases plasma levels of triglyceride
and total cholesterol in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Pomegranate
flower extract exerts this effect probably via inhibition of increased
cardiac FA uptake and oxidation in the diabetic condition. [8]
CORONARY HEART DISEASES
As discussed in previous sections, pomegranate juice or its extracts
contain antioxidants such as soluble polyphenols, tannins, and
anthocyanins and may have benefits on atherosclerosis. Daily
consumption of pomegranate juice may have benefits in patients who
have coronary heart diseases. In a double-blind study, researchers
supplied pomegranate juice daily to 45 patients suffered from coronary
heart disease and myocardial ishemia for 3 months. Based on the data
of tomographic scintigraphy, blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, weight, or
blood pressure, the researchers concluded that pomegranate juice
decreased the extent of stress-induced ischemia. [5]
BLOOD PRESSURE
As discussed, pomegranate juice can offer benefits against
cardiovascular diseases via its anti-oxidant activities. Researchers
further found that pomegranate juice consumption could also reduce
the systolic blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This effect is in a
dose-dependent fashion and related to a change of angiotensin
converting enzyme activity. [12]
ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES
Researchers have previously reported anticancer effects of
pomegranate extracts in human breast cancer cells in vitro and also
anti-cancer activity of pomegranate fermented juice polyphenols in a
mouse mammary organ culture. [13]
In a recent study, at 100 microg/ml, pomegranate juice, ellagic acid,
punicalagin and total pomegranate tannin were found to be able to
induce apoptosis in HT-29 colon cells. However, in the HCT116 colon
cells, ellagic acid, punicalagin and total pomegranate tannin but not
pomegranate juice induced apoptosis. [7]
ANTI-BACTERIA ACTIVITIES
Pomegranate extracts may have benefits on prevention of certain
diseases induced by bbacterial diseases. Low dose of pomegranate
extract concentration was found to delay Staphylococcus aureus
growth, while high doses even eliminated Staphylococcus aureus
growth. [9]
In addition, methanolic pomegranate extracts has been shown to
dramatically enhance the activity of certain antibiotics tested.
Researchers evaluated the synergic activity between pomegranate
extracts and antibiotics against 30 clinical isolates of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus.They detected the synergic activities between
pomegranate extracts and the 5 antibiotics tested, chloramphenicol,
gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, and oxacillin, ranging from 38% to
73%. Pomegranate extracts increased the post-antibiotic effect of
ampicillin from 3 to 7 h. [4]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. DO NOT COPY OR TRANSFER THIS
ARTICLE TO OTHER WEB-SITE OR OTHER TYPE OF PUBLICATION. ALL RIGHT
RESERVED 2005 zhion inc.
REFERENCE
[1] Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Early Edition September
26, 2005. [2] Blomhoff R Antioxidants and oxidative stress Tidsskr Nor
Laegeforen. 2004 Jun 17;124(12):1643-5. [3] Aviram M et al, 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] Braga LC et al, Synergic interaction between
pomegranate extract and antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus. Can J
Microbiol. 2005 Jul;51(7):541-7. [5] Sumner MD et al, 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] Fuhrman B et al,
Pomegranate juice inhibits oxidized LDL uptake and cholesterol biosynthesis in
macrophages. J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Sep;16(9):570-6. [7] Seeram NP et al, In
vitro antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidant activities of punicalagin, ellagic
acid and a total pomegranate tannin extract are enhanced in combination with
other polyphenols as found in pomegranate juice. J Nutr Biochem. 2005
Jun;16(6):360-7. [8] Huang TH et al, Pomegranate flower improves cardiac lipid
metabolism in a diabetic rat model: role of lowering circulating lipids. Br J
Pharmacol. 2005 Jul;145(6):767-74. [9] raga LC et al, Pomegranate extract
inhibits Staphylococcus aureus growth and subsequent enterotoxin production. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 4;96(1-2):335-9. [10] Igea JM et al, Adverse reaction
to pomegranate ingestion. Allergy. 1991 Aug;46(6):472-4. [11] Perez-Vicente A
et al, In vitro gastrointestinal digestion study of pomegranate juice phenolic
compounds, anthocyanins, and vitamin C. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Apr
10;50(8):2308-12. [12] Aviram M et al, Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits
serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood
pressure. Atherosclerosis. 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8. [13] Mehta R et al, Breast
cancer chemopreventive properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit
extracts in a mouse mammary organ culture Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004
Aug;13(4):345-8.
| In general, pomegranate may be safe. However, side effect or adverse event of pomegranate did happen in the past. Spanish care-providers presented a non-atopic 85-year-old woman, with a late-onset recidivant tongue angio-edema due to pomegranate intake. [10] |
