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have created Pom Wonderful, a business devoted to the cultivation and promotion of pomegranates (the Wonderful variety exclusively). It is now the largest pomegranate growing and distribution company in America.® (gallic acid and ellagic acid), anthocyanins (cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin) as well as phenolic acids (ellagic acid, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid). The pericarp is also high in hydrolysable tannins. (Note: The pericarp is the skin surrounding the seed, really the "aril". The seed is only the hard, white internal seed; the red juicy edible sacs, including the seed, are called arils.) Pressing the whole fruit results in juice that is much higher in the pericarp polyphenols. Luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol and narigenin are also found in the peels. The seed oil consists of about 63.5 per cent punicic acid—a rare, 18-carbon trans-fatty acid (structurally related to conjugated linolenic acid). According to one source, the seed also contains the highest concentration of oestrone in the plant kingdom—approximately 17 mg/kg of dried seed. Interest has been growing regarding the potential of pomegranate oil as a potent phyto-oestrogen and for its potential cancer- preventive properties especially with regard to breast cancer. 2 ak any ua Phytochemical content the red juicy edible sacs, including the seed, are called arils. Phytochemicals are simply chemicals which are derived from Pressing the whole fruit results in juice that is much higher in the plants. In the last decade, a lot of interest has developed in these _ pericarp polyphenols. plants due to research uncovering the protective and healing Luteolin, quercetin, kaempferol and narigenin are also found in effects of antioxidants, amongst other phytochemicals. It is the peels. The seed oil consists of about 63.5 per cent punicic interesting to note that plants, just like animals and humans, have acid—a rare, 18-carbon trans-fatty acid (structurally related to developed methods to protect their own health from all the conjugated linolenic acid). According to one source, the seed also depredations of the environment. Because plants are not mobile, contains the highest concentration of oestrone in the plant these defences come in the form of powerful chemicals, which kingdom—approximately 17 mg/kg of dried seed. also give the plants their colour, flavour, smell and texture. It is Interest has been growing regarding the potential of pomegranate these very defences which give rise to the powerful chemicals that oil as a potent phyto-oestrogen and for its potential cancer- have proven useful to humanity and which promise much more preventive properties especially with regard to breast cancer. than has yet been discovered. A powerful plant such as the pomegranate literally offers for | Medicinal history and research consumption a fruit which is a balanced and Pomegranate juice has been used complex combination of many health- throughout history for a multitude of ills. supporting compounds. It is also that very Ancient Greek physicians used it as an anti- combination of compounds that may hold inflammatory, an anti-helminthic (for the secret to these effects, rather than intestinal worms) and a cough suppressant. extracts made of specific compounds which It was also used to treat chronic diarrhoea are isolated, such as ellagic acid’—although and dysentery. In Georgia, uses have this extract is actually showing promising What is most exciting pneluded the treatment of mucus ascharges, results in clinical trials. . . aemorrhages, night sweats and diarrhoea. Approximately 75 per cent of the world's In modern times It has been used to strengthen capillaries and medicines come rom plants; thus there isa is the discovery of help. prevent atherosclerosis. asthma, uge spectrum of chemicals and influences . onsillitis and bronchitis. Pomegranate available to us from the plant kingdom. extremely high extract mixed with aloe vera extract has been Among the benef: phytochemicals quantities of the used to activate bone regeneration. there are many c cations. One sub- . . Work has also been done recently on its class is known as the phenolics, which anticancer phenolic use as a successful treatment for burns. ellagic acid in includes flavonoids, flavonals, catechins, pomegranates. isoflavones and phenolic acids. Each of the 5,000 phytochemicals in the flavonoid subclass alone is an antioxidant which helps strengthen the human immune system, heals the cardiovascular system and slows ageing. In the former Soviet republic of Georgia, phytomedicines have developed a very respected reputation in recent decades due to the fact that in more than 500 studies published in they come from foraged "wild-crafted" the last 40 years. sources, i.e., plants growing wild. These plants were once part of Dr Gary Stoner of Ohio State University has directed much orchard systems which spread through the countryside. Asa research demonstrating ellagic acid's medicinal properties in result, a lot of research has been concentrated on these medicinal relation to cancer. Many researchers are now on record with plants, and in particular on the pomegranate. A small industry is positive research relating to ellagic acid and cancer, in both being developed, with an eye on keeping the quality of harvesting rodents and human trials. A lot of work has been done on cervical and processing high. Much of the information presented below and breast cancer. Dr Wendy Smith and her team at the has been stimulated in part by the growth in interest in Georgian University of Kentucky have shown that ellagic acid helps - Ellagic acid versus cancer What is most exciting in modern times is the discovery of extremely high quantities of the anticancer phenolic ellagic acid in pomegranates. The pomegranate is one of the world's greatest known sources of ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant and anticancer phytochemical that has been described wild-crafted phytochemicals. prevent the earliest chemical reactions that can lead to breast For more information on this as well as additional studies cancer. Dr Kim of South Korea's Pusan National University led a mentioned below, see W. Shafer Fox's 100 & Healthy — Living team of scientists from the US, Canada, UK and Israel that made Longer with Phyotomedicines from the Republic of Georgia.’ powerful findings regarding the action of pomegranate phytochemicals on reduction of breast cancer proliferation and Chemical composition formation of cancerous lesions. There are many studies available Most of the chemical analyses of pomegranates have focused and ongoing in the treatment of cancer, including breast, prostate on the juice, peel/pericarp and seed oil. The juice/fruit contains and lung cancer, and the potential of this use of pomegranates is high amounts of hydrolysable tannins, in particular ellagitannins building quickly. Much of this research is in Shafer Fox's book. is the discovery of extremely high quantities of the anticancer phenolic ellagic acid in a on Chemical composition Most of the chemical analyses of pomegranates have focused on the juice, peel/pericarp and seed oil. The juice/fruit contains high amounts of hydrolysable tannins, in particular ellagitannins 22 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2007 What is most exciting in modern times pomegranates. www.nexusmagazi ne.com