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

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits in the Mediterranean area and has been used extensively in the folk medicine. Popularity of pomegranate has increased especially in the last decade because of the health effects of the fruit. Polyphenols, represent the predominant class of phytochemicals of pomegranate, mainly consisting of hydrolysable tannins and ellagic acid. Pomegranate is a rich source of the ellagitannin punicalagin, which has aroused considerable interest in pomegranate fruit as a new therapeutic agent in recent years. Most studies on the effects of pomegranate juice have focused on its ability to cure diabetes and atherosclerosis. The present review summarizes some recent studies on the vasculoprotective and neuroprotective effect of various parts of pomegranate and its main compounds especially hydrolysable tannins ellagitannins, ellagic acid and their metabolites. The in vitro and in vivo studies, showed that the whole parts of pomegranate as well as its main components had a positive influence on blood glucose, lipid levels, oxidation stress and neuro/inflammatory biomarkers. They could be used as a future therapeutic agent towards several vascular and neurodegenerative disorders such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and Alzheimer.