Ellagic acid is usually stored as ellagitannin (a tannin) in raspberries, strawberries, cranberries,
walnuts, pecans, pomegranates, and other plant foods. Hydrolysis of ellagitannin yields ellagic acid
and the dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid.

RESEARCH FINDINGS

CANCER

The highest levels of ellagic acid are found in raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates,
especially when they are freeze-dried. Studies have shown that ellagic acid is able to cause
apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. Some also claim that it can prevent the binding of carcinogens
to DNA, and strengthens connective tissue, which may keep cancer cells from spreading [1-9].

Some studies demonstrate that ellagic acid is able to reduce heart disease, birth defects, liver
fibrosis, and to promote wound healing.

Antiangiogenic properties

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors
play essential roles in angiogenesis and inhibition of these receptors has been shown to result in
potent anti-tumor activity in vivo. Labrecque L et al reported that ellagic acid inhibits VEGF-induced
phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 in endothelial cell as well as PDGF-induced phosphorylation of PDGFR in
smooth muscle cells. [10]

Bladder Cancer

Researchers, China Medical University, Taiwan, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in T24
human bladder cancer cells in vitro using ellagic acid. [11]

Breast Cancer

Researchers at Louisiana State University demonstrated that ellagic acid expressed a selective
cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity, and induced apoptosis in Caco-2 colon, MCF-7 breast, Hs
578T breast, and DU 145 human prostate cancer cells. It was also observed that the mechanism of
apoptosis induction in ellagic acid-treated cancer cells was associated with decreased ATP
production, which is crucial for the viability of cancer cells. [12]

Esophagus

de Boer JG et al, University of Victoria, Canada, showed the mutation preventive properties of
ellagic acid against the mutagenicity of the nitrosamine N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) in the
esophagus of the rat. [13]
Ellagic Acid benefits and side effects
updated on Feb 7, 2008                   zhion@zhion.com
Ellagitannins are traditionally used to treat sore throats, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and
morning sickness in pregnancy
References
1. Agricultural Research Services. Boosting ellagic acid in strawberries. United States Department of
Agriculture Web site. October 8, 1999. 2. Ahn D, Putt D, Kresty L, Stoner GD, Fromm D, Hollenberg
PF. The effects of dietary ellagic acid on rat hepatic and esophageal mucosal cytochromes P450 and phase
II enzymes. Carcinogenesis. 1996;17:821-828. 3. Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's Handbook of
Complimentary and Alternative Medicines. Springhouse, PA: Springhouse Corp; 1999. 4. Harttig U,
Hendricks JD, Stoner GD, Bailey GS. Organ specific, protocol dependent modulation of
7,12-dimethylbenz-[a]anthracene carcinogenesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) by dietary ellagic
acid. Carcinogenesis. 1996;17:2403-2409. 5. Medical Economics. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale,
NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998. . Narayanan BA, Geoffroy O, Willingham MC, Re GG, Nixon
DW. P53/p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression and its possible role in G1 arrest and apoptosis in ellagic acid
treated cancer cells. Cancer Lett. 1999;136:215-221. 7. Stoner GD, Morse MA. Isothiocyanates and plant
polyphenols as inhibitors of lung and esophageal cancer. Cancer Lett. 1997;114:113-119. 8. Thresiamma
KC, George J, Kuttan R. Protective effect of curcumin, ellagic acid and bixin on radiation induced
genotoxicity. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 1998;17:431-434. [10] Combined inhibition of PDGF and VEGF
receptors by ellagic acid, a dietary-derived phenolic compound. Carcinogenesis. 2005 Apr;26(4):821-6.
Epub 2005 Jan 20.[11] Li TM et al, Ellagic acid induced p53/p21 expression, G1 arrest and apoptosis in
human bladder cancer T24 cells, Anticancer Res. 2005 Mar-Apr;25(2A):971-9.[12] In vitro
anti-proliferative activities of ellagic acid. J Nutr Biochem. 2004 Nov;15(11):672-8.  [13]
Chemoprotection against N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced mutation in the rat esophagus., Nutr
Cancer. 2004;50(2):168-73.[14] Mertens Talcott SU et al. Ellagic acid potentiates the effect of quercetin on
p21waf1/cip1, p53, and MAP-kinases without affecting intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species
in vitro. J Nutr. 2005 Mar;135(3):609-14.] [15] Mertens Talcott SU et al. Ellagic acid and quercetin
interact synergistically with resveratrol in the induction of apoptosis and cause transient cell cycle arrest in
human leukemia cells., Cancer Lett. 2005 Feb 10;218(2):141-51.][16] Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
pure chemicals show possible synergistic inhibition of human PC-3 prostate cancer cell invasion across
Matrigel., Invest New Drugs. 2005 Mar;23(2):121-2. [17] In vitro anti-proliferative activities of ellagic
acid. J Nutr Biochem. 2004 Nov;15(11):672-8.] [18]Ellagic acid inhibits growth and arylamine
N-acetyltransferase activity and gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus. In Vivo. 2005
Jan-Feb;19(1):195-9.]  [19] Bioavailability of ellagic acid in human plasma after consumption of
ellagitannins from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice. Clin Chim Acta. 2004 Oct;348(1-2):63-8.]
[20] Phenolic composition and antioxidant activities in flesh and achenes of strawberries (Fragaria
ananassa). J Agric Food Chem. 2005 May 18;53(10):4032-40.][21] Nature's Benefit Ellagic Acid Plus 90
capsules, online publication, smartbomb.com June 6, 2005]
Leukemia

It has been demonstrated that quercetin and ellagic acid
interacted synergistically in the induction of apoptosis in the
human leukemia cell line, MOLT-4.[14-15]

Prostate Cancer

Lansky EP et al, Rimonest Ltd, Israel showed the anti-tumor
activities of ellagic acid against human PC-3 prostate cancer cells
in vitro.[16]

Researchers at Louisiana State University demonstrated that
ellagic acid expressed a selective cytotoxicity and
anti-proliferative activity, and induced apoptosis in Caco-2 colon,
MCF-7 breast, Hs 578T breast, and DU 145 human prostate
cancer cells. It was also observed that the mechanism of
apoptosis induction in ellagic acid-treated cancer cells was
associated with decreased ATP production, which is crucial for
the viability of cancer cells.[17]

Anti-microbial Activity

Lu HF, Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center, Taiwan,
demonstrated that ellagic acid was able to elicit dose-dependent
bacteriostatic activity and inhibition of N-acetylation of
2-aminofluorene (AF). [18]

Absorption

Ellagic acid was detected in human plasma at a maximum
concentration (31.9 ng/ml) after 1 h post-ingestion of
pomegranate juice but was rapidly eliminated by 4 h. [19]

Degradation

Industrial processing reduces ohenolic content and antioxidant
activity of strawberry. However, the levels are still high. [20].

Side Effects

Up to the day that this article was prepared, no serious side
effect is known.

Ellagic Acid Products or Supplements

Most manufacturers derive ellagic acid from pomegranate to a
standardized extract containing 40% of ellagic acid. It is believed
that pomegranate is also able to relieve bacterial and viral
infections, intestinal parasites, chronic mucous discharges and
hemorrhages. [21]

Some manufacturers combine pomegranate extract (whole-fruit)
and pomegranate (seed) together in the product.

Citrus bioflavonoids are commonly combined with ellagic acid in a
product. Manufacturers believe that citrus bioflavonoids may
maximize the absorption and effects.
__________________________________________________
SELECTED, RECENT STUDIES ON ELLAGIC ACID

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.
Seeram NP et, UCLA, J. Nutr Biochem. 2005 Jun;
16(6):360-7.

Pomegranate fruits are widely consumed as juice, and its antioxidant and
anti-atherosclerotic activities are attributed to ellagitannin and ellagic acid.
Ellagic acid, totol pomegranate tannin and punicalagin but not
pomegranate juice could induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells HCT116.
However, pomegranate juice had a better antioxidant activity than ellagic
acid.

Enhancement of radiation-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in
tumor cells by ellagic acid.
Bhosle SM et al. Clin Chim Acta. 2005 May 26.

Combined treatment of tumor with ellagic acid and radiation enhances
oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in tumor cells in a study of mice. Ellagic
acid generated ROS in tumor cells, which increased, by an order of
magnitude when cells were treated with ellagic acid in combination with
gamma radiation. Ellagic acid protects normal cells against radiation
damage.
                                                  
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