Pomegranate's Internal and External Role in the War Against Environmental Aging and Disease

Pomegranate's Internal and External Role in the War Against Environmental Aging and Diseaseby
Howard Murad, M.D.

Since my early days as a dermatologist, I have been studying the ability of various antioxidants, such Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q 10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin E and herb extracts such as Burdock Root, Echinacea, Yellow Dock Root, and Grape Seed Extract to repair and protect the skin against such damage. While all are extremely beneficial, I found the most potent antioxidant power to date comes from Pomegranate Extract, and specifically the polyphenol, Ellagic Acid contained within the pomegranate.

Historical Implications of Pomegranate

In Mediterranean and Caucasian folk medicine, pomegranate extract is used to strengthen the human capillary system, for anti-atherosclerosis, as an anti-asthma agent, and for tonsillitis and bronchitis. Several scientific groups have reported anti-bacterial activity of polyphenols extracted from pomegranate and when mixed with aloe extract, pomegranate extract has been shown to activate bone tissue regeneration after injury.

Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic constituent of many plants that are important in the human diet, especially fruits and nuts. Interest in Ellagic acid has increase greatly during the last decade due to its effectiveness as an antimutagen and anticarcinogen and its potential as an inhibitor of chemically-induced cancer.

Topically, pomegranate extract is especially effective in protecting cells from free radical damage by inhibiting the formation harmful enzymes that cause cells to grow out of control. The ellagic acid, found within pomegranate extract is also thought to strengthen the cell membrane, making it less susceptible to free radical damage and preventing water loss. Such properties have important implications in terms of cancer prevention, as out-of-control cell division is a hallmark of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, evaluated pomegranate's anti-skin tumor effects by comparing topical application of pomegranate extract on neonatal mice against TPA-induced markers (12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), a strong promoter of chemically induced skin cancer. Applying pomegranate extract onto the skin of neonatal mice 30 minutes prior to TPA application significantly inhibited TPA-mediated increases in skin edema and hyperplasia, they said.

The protective and healing properties of the pomegranate are extremely important today, as the rate of skin cancer is increasing faster than any other cancer among Western countries. Applying sunscreen alone isn't enough. The challenge is to teach our clients to apply enough and re-apply to cover all areas of the skin from head to toe.

Using independent, scientific research methods, I have tested the pomegranate's ability to improve the sun protection of sunscreen and found a 20 percent boost in SPF when pomegranate is added to a topical formulation. I then set out to test the result of oral ingestion of pomegranate extract.

Pomegranate Extract Study Overview

    Blinded: The subject is not aware of the identity of the test material
    they are receiving (placebo or active, benchmark or test material).
    Double Blinded: Neither the subject nor the evaluator is aware of the
    identity of the test material each subject receives.
    Controlled: The study has either an untreated control site/group or a
    placebo site/group.
    Monadic:  Study in which each subject serves as his own control (e.g. post
    treatment data is compared to baseline data using paired statistical
    tests).

    Objective

    Test Materials
    1. SPF-4 Lotion Homosalate
    2. SPF-4 Lotion with antioxidants and Homosalate
    3. SPF-8 Lotion with Octyl Methoxycinnamate
    4. SPF-8 Lotion with antioxidants and Octyl Methoxycinnamate
    5. Pomegranate Capsules
    6. Mixed Fruit Capsules

    Inclusion Criteria

    I. Always burns easily; never tans (sensitive)
    II. Always burns easily; tans minimally (sensitive)
    III. Burns moderately; tans gradually (normal)

Test Method

Day 1 -- determination of Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED).

Days 2-3

Days 4-9

Days 10-11

    Results
    * Significantly increased SPF of test material SPF 4 Homosalate by 28.8%
    * Significantly increased SPF of test material SPF-8 Octinoxate by 22.7%

    Conclusion

Summary

Indeed, the protective and healing properties of the pomegranate are increasingly important today, as the rate of skin cancer is increasing faster than any other cancer among Western countries. Further research regarding pomegranate extract is necessary to fully realize the healing and protective properties of this medicinal food.