Punicic Acid and Its Role in the Prevention of Neurological Disorders: A Review

Abstract

Millions of people worldwide are affected by neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). NDs are characterized by progressive damage and death of nerve cells accompanied by high levels of inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress conditions. Punicic acid, the main bioactive component of pomegranate (Punica granatum) seed oil, is an omega-5 isomer of conjugated α-linoleic acid that has shown strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects that contributes towards its positive effect against a wide arrange of diseases. Punicic acid decreases oxidative damage and inflammation by increasing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. In addition, it can reduce beta-amyloid deposits formation and tau hyperphosphorylation by increasing the expression of GLUT4 protein and the inhibition of calpain hyperactivation. Microencapsulated pomegranate, with high levels of punicic acid, increases antioxidant PON1 activity in HDL. Likewise, encapsulated pomegranate formulations with high levels of punicic acid have shown an increase in the antioxidant PON1 activity in HDL. Because of the limited brain permeability of punicic acid, diverse delivery formulations have been developed to enhance the biological activity of punicic acid in the brain, diminishing neurological disorders symptoms. Punicic acid is an important nutraceutical compound in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease.

Effect of Different Edible Trichosanthes Germplasm on Its Seed Oil to Enhance Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Our previous study also revealed that the ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to oleic acid (OA) displayed a highly significant positive correlation with the inhibition rates in Job's tears (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) seed oil for human bladder carcinoma T24 cells [34]. TA is an omega-5 isomer of conjugated α-linolenic acid (CLnA) known for its broad biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, antiproliferative, anti-carcinogenic, and antioxidant properties [35]. Seed oil exhibiting high antioxidant activity is characterized by a high content of total UFA content and a high ratio of TA/OA.…”

A Review on Food Wastes for Manufacturing New Food Products

“…Bioactive compounds of pomegranate peels are phenolic acids including gallic, caffeic, ferulic, cinnamic, ellagic acids apart from that, flavonoid compounds like catechin, epicatechin, anthocyanin, Proanthocyanidin, rutin, hesperidin etc. and also tannin like ellagitannins, Gallo tannins, corilagin, hexoside, Pedunculagin are present (Guerra-Vázquez et al, 2022). Pomegranate peels help in prevention of type II diabetes, oral cavities, Alzheimer disorder, cardiovascular manifestations, cancer and so on.…”

The Multiple Sclerosis Modulatory Potential of Natural Multi-Targeting Antioxidants

“…Punicic acid (PU) is a polyunsaturated omega-5 fatty acid, with a trans double bond conformation, at the eleventh carbon atom, and possesses high antioxidant and anti-MS activity, as it is shown by the beneficial effects of pomegranate seed oil (PSO), mainly comprising PU [ 98 , 99 ]. PSO, especially in nanodroplet formulation (Nano-PSO), showed significant beneficial effects, in EAE induced C57Bl naïve female mice, in much lower concentration (10% dose of the lowest active concentration of PSO) of the oil, reducing disease burden and preventing the disease onset, administered from the first day of EAE induction [ 98 ].…”