Pomegranate Juice

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L) is an apple-size fruit which grows on rounded plants 4.6 to 6 meters tall, contains a sack of seeds and a juicy pulp (Fig.1).

Figure 1. Pomegranate fruit

Its juice is a rich source of vitamin C, D, E, and iron. It is also high in  antioxidant compare to other natural juices as it is shown in Fig.2.

Figure 2. The total antioxidant concentrations of fruits

Benefits of pomegranates :

§  High antioxidants

§  Reducing LDL cholesterol in Blood

§  Lowering  of the incidence of cardiovascular diseases

§  Protect and slow prostate cancer and urinary tract infections

§  Protect the nervous system from degeneration (to halt Alzheimer’s disease progression)

§  Boosting the immune system by protecting the body from free radicals in blood

§  Lowering the blood pressure.

The sugar in pomegranate is suitable for diabetics, the natural fruit sugars are far healthier than processed, refined sugars. The sugars are also attached to unique antioxidants which make these sugars protective against atherosclerosis.

Pomegranate juice also contains phytoestrogen (an estrogen-like plant substances) which is essential for menopausal syndrome.

Journal Publisher for POME Efficacy

Prostate cancer prevention through pomegranate fruit.

Cell Cycle, 2006 February; 5(4):371-3

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in many Western countries. Because prostate cancer progresses very slowly it is an ideal subject for research. Pomegranate contains high levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the effect of a pomegranate extract inhibited cell growth and caused apoptosis of highly aggressive human prostate cancer cells. Consumption of pomegranate may retard prostate cancer progression and may prolong the survival of prostate cancer cells.

Pomegranate juice, total pomegranate ellagitannins, and punicalagin suppress inflammatory cell signaling in colon cancer cells.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2006 February, 8;54(3):980-5

Phytochemicals from pomegranate may inhibit cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. These phytochemicals act by modulating the cellular transcription factors and signaling proteins. Other studies showed that pomegranate juice and its ellagitannins inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of colon cancer cells. The researchers concluded that polyphenols in pomegranate can play an important role in the modulation of inflammatory cell signaling in colon cancer cells.

Anticancer activities of pomegranate extracts and genistein in human breast cancer cells.

Journal of Medicinal Food, 2005;8(4):469-75

Other studies showed that pomegranate extracts and genistein have anti-carcinogenic activity. For this study the scientists tested the potential anticancer effects of pomegranate extracts and genistein on the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. They found that pomegranate extracts and genistein had were cytotoxic to the cancer cells and they they inhibited their growth. The combined treatment of pomegranate extracts and genistein was more effective than the single treatments.