written and researched by Heather (Published in issue 30 The South African Journal of Natural Medicine)
The pomegranate has a rich and ancient history. From the three pomegranates depicted on the silver shekel which was in circulation from 143 BC to approximately 135 BC and is the coin mentioned in the bible and is mentioned no less than 8 times (at least) in the bible from the Songs of Solomon to Deuteronomy. It is a common symbol found everywhere from Jewish custom to ancient China. Reference to it is also found in Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Islam. From Pliny to Homer, from Greek legend to Romeo and Juliet the pomegranate is a fruit full of symbolism and history. When a fruit shows up in so many cultures and time periods we must wonder why it was considered such an important fruit to merit mention in many ages over and over again. What did our forefather’s know that we don’t?
We are very fortunate to be living in this time of modern science and medical research. Our diet plays an important role in everyday life and can either add quality to, or detract quality from, our standard of living. Here are a few wonderful qualities of the pomegranate fruit that we should know.
In 2004 the University of Illinois published that they had found that pomegranate extracts were effective as an anti-cancer agent with chemo-preventative activity against mammary organ cancer in mammals. (1) The study was conducted using mice and this research will continue to include human research in the future. They have expanded the study from just pomegranate juice to include pomegranate seed oil, and found that the results against breast cancer had a greater effect than just the aforementioned juice.
Not only is the pomegranate effective in the treatment of breast cancer but studies have shown that it is also effective against skin cancer. The University of Wisconsin conducted studies using pomegranate extracts and found a drop in skin cancer incidence was evident in their test subjects treated with pomegranate directly on the skin, and it was found to completely block skin cancer production in test mice. (9) This find has been duplicated at other Universities and one of the scientists is patenting pomegranate skin care products. The pomegranate fruit extracts were also found to be a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant! (11)
Similarly Angiogenesis” study in 2003 revealed that pomegranate seed oil and juice polyphenols retard oxidation, inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Their studies conclusively revealed that pomegranate juice had an anti-proliferative effect on angiogenic cells and in myometrial and amniotic fluid fibroblasts and inhibited HUVEC tubule formation. (1)
In 2004 J Med Food studied the effects of pomegranate seed oil and juice against prostate cancer cell growth. The study showed that pomegranates significantly reduced tumor growth across the board from gene targets to cell distribution. Considering pomegranates to be a potent anti-cancer agent. (2)
J Med Food also conducted studies in 2004 to determine the beneficial effects of pomegranate juice on leukemia cells. The flavanoid rich pomegranate was shown to exert anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-eicosanoid, and pro-apoptotic actions in breast and prostate cancer cells and anti-angiogenic (8) activities. Also testing the potential differentiation promoting agents on leukemia cells revealing that the juice had an inhibitory and suppressive effect. (6)
Even more astounding are the published results from Nottingham University who are patenting a pomegranate condom coating as their research revealed that pomegranate juice is a potent virus killer and will be effective against HIV / Aids. The juice from the pomegranate was shown to inhibit infection by the primary cirus clades A to G and group O. (3) / (12)
Recent studies also included the benefits of taking pomegranates by diabetics with high cholesterol. The results of the tests showed the intake of pomegranates to be beneficial to diabetics with high cholesterol as it lowered total cholesterol (P <.006), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (P <.006), LDL-cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (P <.001), and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (P <.001). Other studies have shown that regular pomegranate ingestion lowers the risk of angina attacks. (4) (10)
Patients with carotid artery stenosis also benefited by ingesting pomegranate juice frequently. In June 2004 it was published that dietary supplementation with pomegranates inhibited LDL (low density lipoproteins) oxidation and macrophage foam cell formation and attenuation of atherosclerosis development. One year of supplementation reduced IMT (intima-media thickness) by 30%. LDL oxidation was decreased by 90% and patients serum paraoxonase activity was increased by 83%. Systolic blood pressure was reduced by 21%. Conclusively showing that pomegranate juice benefited those patients tested. (5)
Pomegranates are known to contain estrogens and thus were studied to determine their effect on menopause and bone density. In 2004 J Ethnopharmacol found that pomegranate juice and seed extract significantly increased bone volume and BMD (Bone Mass Density) was normalized by the juice. Due to these tests it was determined that menopausal women suffering from bone loss and depression would benefit from pomegranate supplementation. (7)
So not only does a cup of pomegranate juice contain the equivalent of ten cups of green tea, two glasses of red wine, four glasses of cranberry juice, or six cups of cocoa, but it is also packed with vitamins A, C and E. (13) Vitamin C boosts semen production in men, vitamin A increases both testosterone and estrogen levels resulting in increased libido, but it also contains the correct dosage of folic acid required during pregnancy, thereby protecting your infant!
I don’t think that we need any more evidence to show us that a pomegranate a day will keep the doctor away!
Journal references: 1. Breast cancer chemopreventive properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in a mouse mammary organ culture. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004 Aug;13(4):345-8. Mehta R, Lansky EP. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago 2. Pomegranate extracts potently suppress proliferation, xenograft growth, and invasion of human prostate cancer cells. J Med Food. 2004 Fall;7(3):274-83. 3. Punica granatum (Pomegranate) juice provides an HIV-1 entry inhibitor and candidate topical microbicide. BMC Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 14;4(1):41. 4. Concentrated pomegranate juice improves lipid profiles in diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. J Med Food. 2004 Fall;7(3):305-8. 5. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation. Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33. 6. Differentiation-promoting activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. J Med Food. 2004 Spring;7(1):13-8. 7. Pomegranate extract improves a depressive state and bone properties in menopausal syndrome model ovariectomized mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 May;92(1):93-101. 8. Preliminary studies on the anti-angiogenic potential of pomegranate fractions in vitro and in vivo. Angiogenesis. 2003;6(2):121-8. 9. Chemopreventive effects of pomegranate seed oil on skin tumor development in CD1 mice. J Med Food. 2003 Fall;6(3):157-61. Hora JJ, Maydew ER, Lansky EP, Dwivedi C. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 10. Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice and in humans. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2002;28(2-3):49-62. 11. Studies on antioxidant activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract using in vivo models. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Aug 14;50(17):4791-5. 12. Punica granatum (Pomegranate) juice provides an HIV-1 entry inhibitor and candidate topical microbicide. Neurath AR, Strick N, Li YY, Debnath AK. Biochemical Virology Laboratory, Lindsley F, Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, USA. [email protected] 13. Roger Corder, a professor of experimental therapeutics at the William Harvey Research Institute in London 14. New Research confirms health Benefits from Pomegranate juice. (http://www.juiceproducts.org/nutritionnews_pomegratant-health.html)