Pomegranate

Pomegranate, Punica granatum

Description

The pomegranate is a smaller deciduous tree (usually less than 3 m). It grows mainly in the subtropics, but can also be grown in our conditions. The fruit is about 12 cm in diameter and has an atypical hexagonal cross-section. They have a tough skin on the surface and several hundred seeds inside, coated with a tasty red flesh.

History

Pomegranates are one of the oldest fruits consumed. It probably originated in what is now Turkey and Iran and has been cultivated for several thousand years, especially in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and South Asia.

The pomegranate has had symbolic significance in many cultures. In ancient mythologies it was often an attribute of the gods or a symbol of fertility and prosperity. The pomegranate, as a Christian symbol of original sin, is often depicted as a pomegranate, but it is also a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.

The medicinal effects of this fruit have been known for quite a long time. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and its Indian sister Ayurveda, for example, to treat digestive problems, slow down aging, support the function of the kidneys, heart and nervous system, kill intestinal parasites or treat inflammation, in many cultures it is also a popular aphrodisiac.

Active ingredients

Pomegranate and its juice contain a variety of substances with positive effects on the body. There are vitamins (C, B, beta-carotene), minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, potassium) and amino acids. Important is also the complex of substances from the polyphenol family, which together represent one of the most powerful natural antioxidant complexes.

Perhaps the most important component is ellagic acid, which acts on the principle of epigenetic processes – although it cannot change human genetic information through a series of biochemical processes (gene methylation, histone acetylation or inhibition of the NF-KapaB protein complex, which controls DNA transcription), it can influence which of our genes are eventually expressed and which are not. It is probably ellagic acid that is most responsible for the beneficial effects of pomegranate in the prevention and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This substance is complemented by punicic acid and luteolin, which have significant anti-cancer effects.

Other beneficial substances are ellagitannins, quercetin and beta-sisterol.

Fruit juice, seed oil or extract with a high proportion of ellagic acid is used for treatment.

Healing effects

Cardiovascular disease

Pomegranate is a great helper for all those who suffer from high blood pressure. In fact, it is one of the most effective natural remedies to promote nitric oxide production (more here: https://www.epivyziva.cz/oxid-dusnaty-klic-ke-sportovni-vykonnosti-i-lepsi-erekci/). It is a substance that very effectively dilates and relaxes blood vessels, and this also applies to blood vessels affected by atherosclerosis, which is very important in the treatment of high blood pressure. The blood vessels inside which atherosclerotic plaques have formed have narrowed permeability and reduced elasticity, making it much more difficult for the heart to push blood through them. Nitric oxide (NO), however, helps to dilate the blood vessels, leading firstly to better blood flow to all the tissues in the body and secondly to a drop in blood pressure. In addition, the production of a substance called angiotensin also contributes to the drop in pressure. In one study, for example, there was a significant drop in blood pressure after just four weeks of daily use of 100 m of pomegranate juice (28).

Pomegranate promotes the formation of NO in several ways: it contains nitrates, from which NO is formed, it increases the production of the enzyme eNOS, which is essential for this reaction, and thanks to its antioxidant action it protects the formed NO from oxidation by free radicals. (10, 24, 25)

However, there are several mechanisms by which pomegranate affects the health of the heart and blood vessels. The polyphenolic compounds it contains, for example, can suppress chronic inflammatory processes and the production of harmful free radicals through epigenetic mechanisms. Both play a major role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Pomegranate is also one of the most effective natural means of lowering LDL cholesterol. In one study, a significant drop in the level of this dangerous substance occurred after just 4 weeks of taking 800 mg of pomegranate extract per day. (28, 29). In addition, it reduces the peroxidation of blood lipids and the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (10, 11, 28).

In addition, it can effectively contribute directly to the reduction of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels, which are a manifestation of atherosclerosis. For example, in experiments on mice, the rate of atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels was reduced by 17 % after administration of pomegranate juice. (13) In human patients with atherosclerosis who took pomegranate juice daily for three years, there was even an incredible 30% reduction in atherosclerotic plaques!

In addition, the positive effect of pomegranate on the heart and blood vessels has also been observed in patients with diabetes. (28)

Support testosterone production

Pomegranate is one of the most effective natural remedies for promoting the production of the male sex hormone testosterone. (17)

Erectile dysfunction

Pomegranate can also be very effective in helping men with erectile dysfunction.(26) Two of the above-mentioned mechanisms have a positive effect on this area: firstly, promoting the production of testosterone, which, in addition to erection, will positively affect the desire for sex, and secondly, dilating blood vessels, which leads to improved blood flow. In order for an erection to occur, the tissues in the penis have to be filled with a large amount of blood, and if the blood flow is impaired by, for example, atherosclerosis, this process is inevitably impaired.

For example, a double-blind study involving 53 men with moderate erectile dysfunction demonstrated the effectiveness of drinking pomegranate juice daily. After four weeks, 79% of the participants experienced an improvement in erectile function. Pomegranate extract taken as a dietary supplement works similarly.

Fertility

It is not only the enhancement of testosterone production that is related to pomegranate’s ability to promote male fertility. Its use improves sperm production and quality, promotes optimal cell density of the testicular tissues in which sperm form, and protects against the negative effects of certain environmental toxins (22, 23).

However, it can also have a supportive effect on female fertility – some of its active substances positively influence the activity of the uterus (39).

Prostate

Pomegranate reduces the activity of the gene for the production of the “insidious” enzyme 5-alpha reductase by epigenetic means. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the main cause of prostate enlargement (and male pattern baldness). Pomegranate also inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells, including very aggressive types, through its epigenetic action (40, 41).

Anti-inflammatory action

Virtually all foods high in polyphenols are powerful anti-inflammatory agents and this is also true for pomegranate. In addition, the ellagitannins and ellagic acid contained in pomegranate have anti-inflammatory effects. They reduce the production of a whole spectrum of pro-inflammatory substances such as COX-2, prostaglandins and interleukins (28).

They are also very effective in suppressing inflammatory processes in the digestive tract, which is good news for people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases. (27) The anti-inflammatory effect is also beneficial in arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, for which it even seems that pomegranates may not only prevent the onset of the disease, but may also reduce the severity of the disease. (28, 32)

Sports performance

Pomegranate is a very suitable dietary supplement for athletes, combining several positive effects in this area. Very important here is its ability to support the production of nitric oxide. By promoting the dilation of blood vessels, this substance is also able to provide more blood for working muscles, which translates into an increase in strength and endurance performance. For example, runners who received pomegranate extract 30 minutes before exercise performed better in a test of running at a constant speed until exhaustion (19).

A very important role is also played by the ability of pomegranate to promote testosterone production, which will result not only in a higher increase in strength, but also in the speed of recovery after exercise. Its significant anti-inflammatory effect also contributes to the speed of recovery (20, 21).

Tumour diseases

Pomegranate is one of the foods with the most pronounced anti-cancer effects, which are due to several mechanisms. Thanks to its epigenetic action, it has been shown to protect DNA from destructive processes. It affects the processes of proliferation (i.e. rapid uncontrolled cell multiplication, which is typical for cancer cells) and apoptosis or programmed cell death, a process that is often disturbed in cancer cells. A healthy cell initiates the process of programmed cell death when it receives signals that its replication is proceeding too rapidly. Cancer cells lose this ability, which allows them to proliferate uncontrollably.(5, 6) In addition, the strong antioxidant potential, i.e. the ability to neutralise harmful free radicals, also contributes to the protection of cells and their DNA. (1-3,28)

The so-called anti-angiogenic potential of pomegranate is also important. (4) It can suppress the formation of new blood vessels, which the developing tumour needs for its nutrition, so that the tumour cells are literally starved. In addition, the anti-inflammatory action of the substances in pomegranate also inhibits the development of the tumour. When a normal cell becomes a malignant cell, which happens all the time in the body, inflammation is the mechanism that induces the epigenetic changes that allow the tumour to develop further. (7) However, pomegranate inhibits this inflammation and thus acts as a preventive agent against the development of cancer. (8)

For example, pomegranate extracts have been shown to be effective against breast (6- 8,14), prostate (9), skin, colon and lung cancers. (14)

Obesity

Experiments in mice have shown that when pomegranate extracts containing ellagic acid are given to individuals at the same time as a high-fat diet, fat absorption from the digestive tract is reduced, thereby reducing overall energy intake. In addition, it affects the activity of the enzyme lipase produced by the pancreas, which is responsible for breaking down fats. In addition, mice receiving pomegranate extract showed an overall decrease in appetite and a decrease in blood glucose levels (15).

In addition, a positive effect of pomegranate on weight reduction in insulin-resistant individuals has been observed in mouse experiments, which is very good news, especially for overweight diabetics (31).

Immunity and antimicrobial action

The positive effect of pomegranate on the function of the immune system is also due to epigenetic effects. Through mechanisms such as gene methylation, histone acetylation and post-transcriptional modulation of microRNAs, it influences the processes of activation and differentiation of a wide range of immune cells (16).

In addition, pomegranate has also shown direct antimicrobial effects in a number of studies. For example, it effectively kills the yeast Candida albicans and is even effective against some bacteria that have acquired resistance to antibiotics – for example, golden staphylococcus or Esterichia Coli.(33-36) In addition, some studies suggest efficacy against malaria parasites. (28)

Mental Health

Pomegranate is one of the foods that can positively influence stress levels, improve emotional health and regulate mood.(12) Especially in middle-aged and older men, pomegranate’s ability to promote testosterone production plays an important role in this area, as a decline in the production of this sex hormone can be one of the causes of mood disorders and depression. (17)

Symptoms of menopause

From the above, it might seem that pomegranate is especially suitable for men, but this is not the case. In fact, it is also surprisingly effective in trying to alleviate unpleasant menopausal symptoms, whether it is an increased risk of osteoporosis or mood disorders. (18) A 12-week use of pomegranate seed oil also significantly reduced the incidence of sleep disorders in menopausal women. (42)

Oral health

Several studies have demonstrated the ability of pomegranate to significantly reduce the incidence of plaque-forming microorganisms. In this case, however, the active ingredients need to come into contact directly with the oral cavity. It is therefore possible, for example, to roll the juice around in the mouth for a while before swallowing; if the extract is used, it is advisable to pour it out of the capsule, mix it in water and rinse the oral cavity with it again before swallowing. (37, 38)

In addition, pomegranate has also proven effective against gingivitis. (42)

Diabetes

Daily consumption of pomegranate juice at a rate of 1.5 ml per kilogram of body weight resulted in lower blood sugar levels in diabetics (42).

Use and contraindications

The commonly recommended daily dose of pomegranate extract is 300-500 mg, but higher doses are often used.

Pomegranate in the form of fruit, juice and extract is considered safe, even in relatively high doses. For example, in a study in which obese subjects took 1420 mg of the extract for 28 days, none of the participants experienced any side effects or negative changes in their blood or urine. (28, 43) Caution is advised, however, for people taking blood thinners such as Warfarin. It may also affect the absorption and metabolism of tolbutamide and carbamazepine. (28) It is also not suitable for people with very low blood pressure, as it could lower it further, and it is not recommended for use two weeks before and two weeks after surgery because of the risk of increased bleeding. (42)

Pomegranate is usually taken alone, but some combinations with other dietary supplements are also possible. For example, the combination with quercetin is suitable for weight loss or cancer prevention, while the combination with curcumin is beneficial for diabetics, men with prostatic hyperplasia or athletes.