Planta Med 2022; 88(15): 1538
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759254
Poster Session II

Vasculoprotective and Neuroprotective Effects of Various Parts of Pomegranate: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Preclinical studies

M Trapali
1   Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Cosmetic Science University of West Attica, Aigaleo, Greece, Greece
,
A Varvaresou∗
1   Laboratory of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Cosmetic Science University of West Attica, Aigaleo, Greece, Greece
,
V Lagouri
2   Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635, Athens, Greece.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
 

Fruits rich in polyphenols have been shown to have health benefits associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ellagitannins (ET) and ellagic acid (EA) are polyphenols found in fruits and seeds. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a rich source of ET and is considered as a new therapeutic agent. A small number of clinical trials in humans have highlighted the positive effects of pomegranate juice and extract consumption on cardiovascular health. It could be used as a future therapeutic agent towards hypertension, heart disease, Alzheimer.

The present study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant/free-radical scavenging properties of the juice, peel and seed extracts of pomegranate from mainland Greece. The peel homogenates from both pomegranate cultivars Central Macedonia (B) and Thrace (C) showed higher DPPH activity than that of the aril juices and seeds extracts. For both pomegranate cultivars B and C, peel homogenates and aril juices showed higher reducing activity than the seeds extracts. C peel homogenate was a strong reducing agent. Peel homogenates showed higher total phenol content than the aril juices. Total flavonoids (TF) and hydrolysable tannins (HT) results showed that peel homogenates from both pomegranate cultivars contained significantly higher contents than juices. Peel homogenates from both cultivars showed higher EA content than juices. B cultivar in its peel homogenates showed higher free radical scavenging activity, total phenol, total flavonoid, hydrolysable tannins and ellagic acid contents than C cultivar. Results of this study are very promising and suggest that pomegranate peels could be a rich source of beneficial phytochemicals.



Publication History

Article published online:
12 December 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Asgary S, Keshvari M, Sahebkar A. et al. Clinical investigation of the acute effects of pomegranate juice on blood pressure and endothelial function in hypertensive individuals. ARYA Atheroscler 2013; 9: 326-331
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Asgary S, Keshvari M, Sahebkar A, Sarrafzadegan N. Pomegranate consumption and blood pressure: a review. Curr Pharm Des 2017; 23: 1042-1050
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 De Nigris F, Balestrieri ML, Williams-Ignarro S. et al. The influence of pomegranate fruit extract in comparison to regular pomegranate juice and seed oil on nitric oxide and arterial function in obese Zucker rats. Nitric Oxide 2007; 17: 50-54
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Dos Santos RL, Dellacqua LO, Delgado NT. et al. Pomegranate peel extract attenuates oxidative stress by decreasing coronary angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in hypertensive female rats. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2016; 79: 998-1007
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Haghighian MK, Rafraf M, Moghaddam A. et al. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel hydro alcoholic extract ameliorates cardiovascular risk factors in obese women with dyslipidemia: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. Eur J Integr Med 2016; 8: 676-682
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar