Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and Its Rich Ellagitannins as Potential Inhibitors in Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis, an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, places a significant financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. Recently, reviews of the pomegranate and the abundant medicinal applications of its ellagitannins, as well as its pharmacological action, phytochemicals, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics, have been completed. However, summaries on their anti-ulcerative colitis effects are lacking. Numerous preclinical animal investigations and clinical human trial reports demonstrated the specific therapeutic effects of pomegranate and the effect of its ellagitannins against ulcerative colitis. According to the literature collected by Sci-finder and PubMed databases over the past 20 years, this is the first review that has compiled references regarding how the rich ellagitannins found in pomegranate have altered the ulcerative colitis. It was suggested that the various parts of pomegranates and their rich ellagitannins (especially their primary components, punicalagin, and ellagic acid) can inhibit oxidant and inflammatory processes, regulate the intestinal barrier and flora, and provide an anti-ulcerative colitis resource through dietary management.

Healthy Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Internal Medicine and Dentistry

“…IBDs are characterized by the inflammation of the colon mucosa, accompanied by the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, which represent the first line of defense in the immune system and produce a series of inflammatory molecules [140]. A randomized controlled trial, conducted on a group of IBD patients with a high rate of relapses, evaluated the effects of supplementation with PJ, rich in ETs, on the modulation of local and systemic inflammation biomarkers.…”

Healthy Effects of Pomegranate (<em>Punica granatum</em> L.) in Internal Medicine and Dentistry

“…IBDs are characterized by the inflammation of the colon mucosa, accompanied by the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, which represent the defense first line of the immune system and which produce a series of inflammatory molecules [125]. A randomized controlled trial, conducted on a group of IBDs patients, with a high rate of relapses, evaluated the effects of supplementation with PJ, rich in ellagitannins, in the modulation of local and systemic inflammation biomarkers.…”