This curious fruit stands out as a potentially universal recommendation for a variety of health conditions. Studies abound touting its wonder properties. They include GI benefits, anti-inflammatory benefits, anti-oxidant properties, blood pressure lowering benefits, detoxification abilities, and cancer prevention.
GI: In the GI tract, various forms of extract of pomegranate serve to fight unwanted bacteria, parasites, and yeasts (GI references below).
Anti-inflammatory: Through several enzyme pathways (LOX, COX, NF-kB), pomegranate lowers inflammation.
Anti-oxidant: In one study total serum anti-oxidant capability increased by 130% when consumed for 3 years.
Blood pressure: Pomegranate juice acts as an ACE inhibitor, reducing systolic blood pressure.
Detoxification: The juice of the pomegranate fruit contains 3 times the anti-oxidant capacity of red wine and green tea. The PON-1 enzyme (paroxanase) activity increased by 83% in one study.
Cancer prevention: If these benefits were not enough, pomegranate also protects against cancer occurrence.
How to get the benefits from pomegranate juice:
The fruit, its juice and the seed, possesses a variety of chemicals found beneficial to humans. Supplement companies have also concentrated these natural forms into individual ingredient capsules or combined them with other similarly effective phytochemicals. Depending on one’s preference or need to avoid sugars in the juice, the different forms offer a variety of benefits.
GI:
Pai V, Chanu TR, Chakraborty R, Raju B, Lobo R, Ballal M. 2011. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Punica granatum peel against the enteric pathogens: An in vitro study Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 1:2;57-62.
Egharevba H, Kunle O, Ibrahim I, al e. 2010. Phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of Punica granatum L. (fruit bark and leaves). New York Science Journal, 3:12;91-8.
Ponce-Macotela M, Navarro-Alegria I, Martinez-Gordillo MN, Alvarez-Chacon R. 1994. [In vitro effect against Giardia of 14 plant extracts]. Review Invest Clinics, 46:5;343-7.
Al-Mathal EM, Alsalem AM. 2012. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel is effective in a murine model of experimental Cryptosporidium parvum. Experimental Parasitology, 131:3;350-7. doi: S0014-4894(12)00154-3 [pii]
El-Sherbini GM, Ibrahim KM, El Sherbiny ET, Abdel-Hady NM, Morsy TA. 2010. Efficacy of Punica granatum extract on in-vitro and in-vivo control of Trichomonas vaginalis. J Egypt Soc Parasitol, 40:1;229-44.
Ismail T, Sestili P, Akhtar S. 2012. Pomegranate peel and fruit extracts: A review of potential anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 143:2;397-405. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.07.004
Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. 2013; 2013: 247145.
Published online 2013 Mar 14. doi: [10.1155/2013/247145]
A Review on the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Pomegranate in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Elisa Colombo, 1 Enrico Sangiovanni, 1 and Mario Dell’Agli 1 , 2 ,*
Anti-inflammatory:
Afaq F et al. International Journal of Cancer 2005 Jan 20
Schubert SY et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1999 Jul;66(1):11-7
Lansky EP Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2007 Jan 19;109(2):177-206.
Anti-oxidant:
Aviram M et al “Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation” Clinical Nutrition 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33
Blood Pressure:
Aviram, Michael et al.
Atherosclerosis , Volume 158 , Issue 1 , 195 – 198
Detoxification:
Gil MI Journal Agricultural Food Chemistry 2000 Oct 48(10): 4581-9
Kaur G et al. Food Chemical Toxicology 2006 Jul;44(7): 984-93
Aviram M et al “Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation” Clinical Nutrition 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33
Cancer prevention:
Ismail T, Calcabrini C, Diaz AR, Fimognari C, Turrini E, Catanzaro E, Akhtar S, Sestili P. Toxins 2016, 8(5), 151; doi:10.3390/toxins8050151
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more… offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.