Pomegranate Ellagitannins

Pomegranate exerts chemoprevention of experimentally induced mammary tumorigenesis by suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis

“…Pomegranate juice is known to possess superior antioxidant property to that of other common fruit juices and this effect has been linked to the presence of polyphenols (27). Several pharmacological effects of pomegranate are related to a large number of phytochemicals, including hydrolyzable tannins and related compounds (ellagitanin, punicalagin, pedunculagin, punicalin, gallagic acid, ellagic acid and gallic acid), flavonoids (anthocyanins and catechins), flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol), flavones (apigenin and luteolin), and conjugated fatty acids (punicic acid), present in discrete anatomical parts, such as peel (pericarp or husk), juice, and seeds (26)(27)(28). Pomegranate juice, extracts, and phytoconstituents have been extensively studied preclinically for their anticarcinogenic and cancer chemopreventive effects in colon, lung, skin, and prostate cancer (26,28,29).…”

“…Pomegranate has been gaining popularity as a functional food due to reports on potential health benefits, such as prevention and/or treatment of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, ulcer, arthritis, microbial infection, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, neurological disorders, and erectile dysfunction and male infertility (23)(24)(25)(26). Pomegranate juice is known to possess superior antioxidant property to that of other common fruit juices and this effect has been linked to the presence of polyphenols (27). Several pharmacological effects of pomegranate are related to a large number of phytochemicals, including hydrolyzable tannins and related compounds (ellagitanin, punicalagin, pedunculagin, punicalin, gallagic acid, ellagic acid and gallic acid), flavonoids (anthocyanins and catechins), flavonols (quercetin and kaempferol), flavones (apigenin and luteolin), and conjugated fatty acids (punicic acid), present in discrete anatomical parts, such as peel (pericarp or husk), juice, and seeds (26)(27)(28).…”

Nanoencapsulation of pomegranate bioactive compounds for breast cancer chemoprevention

“…1,2 Pomegranates contain many polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging activity, including flavonoids, condensed tannins, and hydrolyzable tannins (ellagitannins [ETs] and gallotannins). 3,4 ETs are considered to be the most bioactive polyphenols of pomegranates. 4 The most abundant ET in pomegranates is punicalagin (PU).…”

“…3,4 ETs are considered to be the most bioactive polyphenols of pomegranates. 4 The most abundant ET in pomegranates is punicalagin (PU). PU is found at high quantities (2 g/L) in commercial pomegranate juice, which is obtained by pressing whole fruit, and is responsible for more than half of the total antioxidant capacity of the juice.…”

“…4 For example, PU, the largest ET with a molecular weight (MW) of over 1,000 Da, is hydrolyzed to structurally related compounds such as punicalin (MW 782 Da), gallagic acid (MW 638 Da), gallic acid (MW 170 Da), and ellagic acid (EA) (MW 302 Da). 6,7 EA and EA glycosides are also found in pomegranate juice but at about ten times lower concentrations than PU.…”