Healthy Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Internal Medicine and Dentistry
Source abstract
Abstract
Punica granatum L., commonly known as pomegranate, is a typical fruit of Asia, Mediterranean countries, the Middle East and the USA. While in ancient times pomegranate was considered an ornamental plant, nowadays numerous scientific studies have highlighted its antioxidant and anti-radical activities, making it a “superfood”. Pomegranate presents a high content of natural bioactive compounds (NBCs), and its consumption appears to exert numerous healthy effects, in particular, in several pathological conditions as metabolic syndrome, cancer, nephrolithiasis, urinary tract infections and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, recent studies have pointed out the possible beneficial action of pomegranate on oral health. For these reasons, the utility of pomegranate in internal medicine and dentistry represents a promising field, as it could enable the development of innovative natural adjuvant therapies and empower standard pharmaceutical therapies.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Pomegranate: compositions and health benefits · Sesame and Sesamin Research
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
UOSD Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
UOSD Special Care Dentistry, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy
QuMAP - PIN, University Center “Città di Prato” Educational and Scientific Services for the University of Florence, 59100 Prato, Italy
Supreme Fruit SRL, 04012 Cisterna di Latina, Italy
UOSD Special Care Dentistry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Section of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Phenolic Compounds of Pomegranate Byproducts (Outer Skin, Mesocarp, Divider Membrane) and Their Antioxidant Activities10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02950 ↗
2. Liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry for comprehensive phenolic characterization of pomegranate fruit and flower extracts used as ingredients in botanical dietary supplements10.1002/jssc.201800480 ↗
3. Composition and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate: A Review10.2174/1381612825666190708183941 ↗
4. ISTAT (2024, January 15). Coltivazioni Legnose Fruttifere. Available online: http://dati.istat.it/index.aspx?queryid=33705#.
5. Zarfeshany, A., Asgary, S., and Javanmard, S.H. (2014). Potent health effects of pomegranate. Adv. Biomed. Res., 3.10.4103/2277-9175.129371 ↗
6. Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL, and platelet aggregation: Studies in humans and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice10.1093/ajcn/71.5.1062 ↗
7. Characterisation of Pomegranate-Husk Polyphenols and Semi-Preparative Fractionation of Punicalagin10.1002/pca.2691 ↗
8. An Industrial and Sustainable Platform for the Production of Bioactive Micronized Powders and Extracts Enriched in Polyphenols From Olea europaea L. and Vitis vinifera L. Wastes10.3389/fnut.2020.00120 ↗
9. A comprehensive study of pomegranate flowers polyphenols and metabolites in rat biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry10.1016/j.chroma.2019.460472 ↗
10. Isolation of punicalagin from Punica granatum rind extract using mass-directed semi-preparative ESI-AP single quadrupole LC-MS10.1016/j.jpba.2018.12.033 ↗
11. Fast Punicalagin Content Analysis of Various Brands of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Juices by UPLC-MS10.15671/hjbc.626949 ↗
12. Structure to function relationships in ceruloplasmin: A ‘moonlighting’ protein10.1007/s00018-002-8519-2 ↗
13. Safety assessment of pomegranate fruit extract: Acute and subchronic toxicity studies10.1016/j.fct.2008.04.035 ↗
14. Yamada, H., Wakamori, S., Hirokane, T., Ikeuchi, K., and Matsumoto, S. (2018). Structural Revisions in Natural Ellagitannins. Molecules, 23.10.3390/molecules23081901 ↗
15. Tannins in plant–herbivore interactions10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.040 ↗
16. Structural features and biological properties of ellagitannins in some plant families of the order Myrtales10.3390/ijms11010079 ↗
17. Tannins: Classification and definition10.1039/b101061l ↗
18. Ellagitannins—Nature, occurrence and dietary burden10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(20000515)80:7<1118::AID-JSFA570>3.0.CO;2-9 ↗
19. Antitumorigenic and antipromoting activities of ellagic acid, ellagitannins and oligomeric anthocyanin and procyanidin
20. Quave, C.L., Estevez-Carmona, M., Compadre, C.M., Hobby, G., Hendrickson, H., Beenken, K.E., and Smeltzer, M.S. (2012). Ellagic acid derivatives from Rubus ulmifolius inhibit Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and improve response to antibiotics. PLoS ONE, 7.10.1371/journal.pone.0028737 ↗
21. 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 juice10.1016/j.jnutbio.2005.01.006 ↗
22. Ellagic Acid: A Review on Its Natural Sources, Chemical Stability, and Therapeutic Potential
23. Pomegranate juice, total pomegranate ellagitannins, and punicalagin suppress inflammatory cell signaling in colon cancer cells10.1021/jf052005r ↗
24. Nutraceuticals: Facts and fiction10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.09.014 ↗
25. Preparation and characterization of standardized pomegranate extract-phospholipid complex as an effective drug delivery tool10.4103/2231-4040.154542 ↗
26. Fraga-Corral, M., Otero, P., Cassani, L., Echave, J., Garcia-Oliveira, P., Carpena, M., Chamorro, F., Lourenco-Lopes, C., Prieto, M.A., and Simal-Gandara, J. (2021). Traditional Applications of Tannin Rich Extracts Supported by Scientific Data: Chemical Composition, Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility. Foods, 10.10.3390/foods10020251 ↗
27. Possible use of Punica granatum (Pomegranate) in cancer therapy10.1016/j.phrs.2018.04.021 ↗
28. Identification and quantification of phenolic compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel, mesocarp, aril and differently produced juices by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS(n)10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.12.156 ↗
29. Antioxidant properties and phenolic profile characterization by LC–MS/MS of selected Tunisian pomegranate peels10.1007/s13197-017-2727-0 ↗
30. BenSaad, L.A., Kim, K.H., Quah, C.C., Kim, W.R., and Shahimi, M. (2017). Anti-inflammatory potential of ellagic acid, gallic acid and punicalagin A&B isolated from Punica granatum. BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 17.10.1186/s12906-017-1555-0 ↗
31. Punicalagin, a pomegranate compound, induces apoptosis and autophagy in acute leukemia10.7717/peerj.12303 ↗
32. Punicalagin protects against the development of pancreatic injury and insulitis in rats with induced T1DM by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress10.1007/s11010-022-04478-1 ↗
33. Punicalagin induces senescent growth arrest in human papillary thyroid carcinoma BCPAP cells via NF-kappaB signaling pathway10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.074 ↗
34. Characterization of pomegranate peel extracts obtained using different solvents and their effects on cell cycle and apoptosis in leukemia cells10.1002/fsn3.1831 ↗
35. Punicalagin induces apoptosis in A549 cell line through mitochondria-mediated pathway10.4149/gpb_2020024 ↗
36. Punicalagin attenuates ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction via regulating the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway10.1080/13880209.2023.2224403 ↗
37. Antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel extracts performed by high pressure and enzymatic assisted extraction10.1016/j.foodres.2018.08.044 ↗
38. Gullon, P., Astray, G., Gullon, B., Tomasevic, I., and Lorenzo, J.M. (2020). Pomegranate Peel as Suitable Source of High-Added Value Bioactives: Tailored Functionalized Meat Products. Molecules, 25.10.3390/molecules25122859 ↗
39. Antimicrobial potential of pomegranate peel: A review
40. Plant extracts for the control of bacterial growth: Efficacy, stability and safety issues for food application10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2012.03.006 ↗
41. Pomegranate peel as phenolic compounds source: Advanced analytical strategies and practical use in meat products10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107914 ↗
42. High value-added compounds from fruit and vegetable by-products—Characterization, bioactivities, and application in the development of novel food products10.1080/10408398.2019.1572588 ↗
43. Farha, A.K., Yang, Q.-Q., Kim, G., Li, H.-B., Zhu, F., Liu, H.-Y., Gan, R.-Y., and Corke, H. (2020). Tannins as an alternative to antibiotics. Food Biosci., 38.10.1016/j.fbio.2020.100751 ↗
44. Antimicrobial Activity of Punicalagin Against Staphylococcus aureus and Its Effect on Biofilm Formation10.1089/fpd.2016.2226 ↗
45. Almowallad, S., Huwait, E., Al-Massabi, R., Saddeek, S., Gauthaman, K., and Prola, A. (2020). Punicalagin Regulates Key Processes Associated with Atherosclerosis in THP-1 Cellular Model. Pharmaceuticals, 13.10.3390/ph13110372 ↗
46. Punicalagin, an active pomegranate component, is a new inhibitor of PDIA3 reductase activity10.1016/j.biochi.2018.01.008 ↗
47. Optimization of pulsed ultrasound-assisted technique for extraction of phenolics from pomegranate peel of Malas variety: Punicalagin and hydroxybenzoic acids10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.03.017 ↗
48. Francis, C.P.T. (2012). Handbook of Analysis of Active Compounds in Functional Foods, CRC Press. [1st ed.].
49. Pomegranate peel and peel extracts: Chemistry and food features10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.11.035 ↗
50. Hydrolysable tannins in Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell fruit powder and comparison of their functional properties from different solvent extracts10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129833 ↗
51. Optimization of ellagic acid extraction from blueberry pulp through enzymatic hydrolysis combined with ultrasound-assisted organic solvent10.1016/j.eti.2023.103147 ↗
52. Pomegranate ellagitannins inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity in vitro and reduce starch digestibility under simulated gastro-intestinal conditions10.3109/09637486.2014.953455 ↗
53. Valorization of pomegranate peel from 12 cultivars: Dietary fibre composition, antioxidant capacity and functional properties10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.03.089 ↗
54. Leishmanicidal activity of green tea leaves and pomegranate peel extracts on L. infantum10.1080/14786419.2018.1481841 ↗
55. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of pomegranate peel extracts on bovine mammary epithelial cells BME-UV110.1080/14786419.2018.1508149 ↗
56. Anti-proliferative effect of pomegranate peel extracts on bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)10.1080/14786419.2019.1627350 ↗
57. Comparison of thermal and non-thermal extraction methods on free and bound phenolics in pomegranate peel10.1016/j.ifset.2023.103291 ↗
58. Lucarini, M., Durazzo, A., Bernini, R., Campo, M., Vita, C., Souto, E.B., Lombardi-Boccia, G., Ramadan, M.F., Santini, A., and Romani, A. (2021). Fruit Wastes as a Valuable Source of Value-Added Compounds: A Collaborative Perspective. Molecules, 26.10.3390/molecules26216338 ↗
59. Noce, A., Di Lauro, M., Di Daniele, F., Pietroboni Zaitseva, A., Marrone, G., Borboni, P., and Di Daniele, N. (2021). Natural Bioactive Compounds Useful in Clinical Management of Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 13.10.3390/nu13020630 ↗
60. Fahed, G., Aoun, L., Bou Zerdan, M., Allam, S., Bou Zerdan, M., Bouferraa, Y., and Assi, H.I. (2022). Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.10.3390/ijms23020786 ↗
61. Laurindo, L.F., Barbalho, S.M., Marquess, A.R., Grecco, A.I.S., Goulart, R.A., Tofano, R.J., and Bishayee, A. (2022). Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors and Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies. Nutrients, 14.10.3390/nu14081665 ↗
62. Noce, A., Romani, A., and Bernini, R. (2021). Dietary Intake and Chronic Disease Prevention. Nutrients, 13.10.3390/nu13041358 ↗
63. Marrone, G., Guerriero, C., Palazzetti, D., Lido, P., Marolla, A., Di Daniele, F., and Noce, A. (2021). Vegan Diet Health Benefits in Metabolic Syndrome. Nutrients, 13.10.3390/nu13030817 ↗
64. Beneficial Effects of Pomegranate on Lipid Metabolism in Metabolic Disorders10.1002/mnfr.201800773 ↗
65. Concentrated pomegranate juice improves lipid profiles in diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia10.1089/jmf.2004.7.305 ↗
66. Consumption of pomegranate juice decreases blood lipid peroxidation and levels of arachidonic acid in women with metabolic syndrome10.1002/jsfa.7977 ↗
67. Pomegranate and type 2 diabetes10.1016/j.nutres.2013.03.003 ↗
68. Anti-diabetic action of Punica granatum flower extract: Activation of PPAR-gamma and identification of an active component10.1016/j.taap.2004.12.009 ↗
69. The antioxidant HDL-associated paraoxonase-1 (PON1) attenuates diabetes development and stimulates beta-cell insulin release10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.07.119 ↗
70. Efficacy of Pomegranate Seed Powder on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial10.1159/000510986 ↗
71. The effects of pomegranate consumption on glycemic indices in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis10.1016/j.dsx.2024.102940 ↗
72. Does pomegranate consumption affect weight and body composition? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials10.1002/ptr.6322 ↗
73. Obesity: The preventive role of the pomegranate (Punica granatum)10.1016/j.nut.2011.11.013 ↗
74. The effects of Xanthigen in the weight management of obese premenopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01132.x ↗
75. Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on blood pressure and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A single-blind randomized clinical trial10.1016/j.clnesp.2018.11.013 ↗
76. Impact of pomegranate juice on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis10.1002/ptr.7952 ↗
77. Effects of pomegranate extract supplementation on inflammation in overweight and obese individuals: A randomized controlled clinical trial10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.12.003 ↗
78. Pomegranate ellagitannin-derived compounds exhibit antiproliferative and antiaromatase activity in breast cancer cells in vitro10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-08-0225 ↗
79. Ellagic acid induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling pathway in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells10.3892/ijo.2015.2870 ↗
80. Potential anti-inflammatory effects of the hydrophilic fraction of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil on breast cancer cell lines10.3390/molecules19068644 ↗
81. Punica granatum (pomegranate) leaves extract induces apoptosis through mitochondrial intrinsic pathway and inhibits migration and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro10.1016/j.biopha.2016.03.023 ↗
82. Husari, A., Khayat, A., Bitar, H., Hashem, Y., Rizkallah, A., Zaatari, G., and El Sabban, M. (2014). Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice reduces acute lung injury secondary to hyperoxia in an animal model. BMC Res. Notes, 7.10.1186/1756-0500-7-664 ↗
83. Pomegranate fruit extract inhibits prosurvival pathways in human A549 lung carcinoma cells and tumor growth in athymic nude mice10.1093/carcin/bgl145 ↗
84. Oral consumption of pomegranate fruit extract inhibits growth and progression of primary lung tumors in mice10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-3941 ↗
85. Colon cancer chemopreventive activities of pomegranate ellagitannins and urolithins10.1021/jf903762h ↗
86. Pomegranate seed oil rich in conjugated linolenic acid suppresses chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in rats10.1111/j.1349-7006.2004.tb03236.x ↗
87. Pomegranate extracts potently suppress proliferation, xenograft growth, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells10.1089/jmf.2004.7.274 ↗
88. Wang, Y., Zhang, S., Iqbal, S., Chen, Z., Wang, X., Wang, Y.A., Liu, D., Bai, K., Ritenour, C., and Kucuk, O. (2013). Pomegranate extract inhibits the bone metastatic growth of human prostate cancer cells and enhances the in vivo efficacy of docetaxel chemotherapy. Prostate, 74.10.1002/pros.22769 ↗
89. Proteomic exploration of the impacts of pomegranate fruit juice on the global gene expression of prostate cancer cell10.1002/pmic.201200084 ↗
90. Pomegranate polyphenols down-regulate expression of androgen-synthesizing genes in human prostate cancer cells overexpressing the androgen receptor10.1016/j.jnutbio.2007.11.006 ↗
91. Antibacterial Activity of Medicinal Plants Against Pathogens causing Complicated Urinary Tract Infections10.4103/0250-474X.54279 ↗
92. Oxidative stress and nephrolithiasis: A comparative pilot study evaluating the effect of pomegranate extract on stone risk factors and elevated oxidative stress levels of recurrent stone formers and controls10.1007/s00240-014-0686-8 ↗
93. Protective effect of a potent antioxidant, pomegranate juice, in the kidney of rats with nephrolithiasis induced by ethylene glycol10.1089/end.2008.0357 ↗
94. Pomegranate juice to reduce fecal calprotectin levels in inflammatory bowel disease patients with a high risk of clinical relapse: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial10.1186/s13063-019-3321-8 ↗
95. Pomegranate peel polyphenols reduce chronic low-grade inflammatory responses by modulating gut microbiota and decreasing colonic tissue damage in rats fed a high-fat diet10.1039/C9FO02077B ↗
96. Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of ellagic acid in the acute and chronic dextrane sulfate sodium models of mice colitis10.1016/j.jep.2013.09.030 ↗
97. Inhibitory effect of punicalagin on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and memory impairment via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.025 ↗
98. Essa, M.M., Subash, S., Akbar, M., Al-Adawi, S., and Guillemin, G.J. (2015). Long-term dietary supplementation of pomegranates, figs and dates alleviate neuroinflammation in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. PLoS ONE, 10.10.1371/journal.pone.0120964 ↗
99. Pomegranate inhibits neuroinflammation and amyloidogenesis in IL-1beta-stimulated SK-N-SH cells10.1007/s00394-015-0984-0 ↗
100. Maternal dietary supplementation with pomegranate juice is neuroprotective in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury10.1203/01.PDR.0000157722.07810.15 ↗