• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2013

In recent years, polyphenol-rich herbs, fruits and processed foods, which are made of plant origin, have attracted much attention due to their potential health benefits. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important source of bioactive compounds and has been used to treat diseases because of its medicinal properties. This research was focused on characterizing Korea's national cultivar and a similar product from California, USA. To evaluate their bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities, their anti-oxidation and cancer inhibition properties, as well as their organic acid and free sugar contents, were investigated. The national cultivar had low total sugar and high organic acid contents, contrary to the imported product. The results showed that the peel of national cultivar had high polyphenol and ellagic acid contents compared to imported product. The free radical scavenging capacity was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and its positive correlation with the total polyphenol contents was found. The anti-cancer activity of methanol extracts revealed growth inhibition against the prostate cancer cell. These results signify that while pomegranate, national cultivar, is more sour than the imported product, its health benefits could be excellent. Also, the polyphenol compound content of the non-edible part (such as the peel and the seed) was higher than that of the juice. Thus, it is suggested that the byproduct of the juice extraction could be potentially used in other fields such as medicine or dietary agents.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by fat accumulation and is associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) against oxidative stress in the liver of rats with NAFLD. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD), 20% corn oil, or palm oil for 8 weeks in the presence or absence of PPE. The control group was fed a basal diet. The progression of NAFLD was evaluated histologically and by measuring liver enzymes (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), serum lipids (triglycerides and total cholesterol), and oxidative stress markers. The HFD feeding increased the body weight and caused NAFLD, liver steatosis, hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and elevated liver enzymes. Administration of PPE ameliorated the hepatic morphology, reduced body weight, improved liver enzymes, and inhibited lipogenesis. Furthermore, PPE enhanced the cellular redox status in the liver tissue of rats with NAFLD. Our findings suggest that PPE could improve HFD-induced NAFLD via abolishment of hepatic oxidative damage and hyperlipidemia. PPE might be considered as a potential lead material in the treatment of NAFLD and obesity through the modulation of lipid metabolism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4051-4055
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• 2012

Functional foods include antioxidant nutrients which may protect against many human chronic diseases by combating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in rats as an in vivo experimental model. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups containing 10 rats per group, and were treated with either AOM, PPE, or PPE plus AOM or injected with 0.9% physiological saline solution as a control. At 8 weeks of age, the rats in the AOM and PPE plus AOM groups were injected with 15 mg AOM/kg body weight, once a week for two weeks. After the last AOM injection, the rats were continuously fed ad-libitum their specific diets for another 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment (i.e. at the age of 4 months), all rats were killed and the colon tissues were examined microscopically for lesions suspected of being preneoplastic lesions or tumors as well as for biochemical measurement of oxidative stress indices. The results revealed a lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci in the PPE plus AOM administered group as compared to the AOM group. In addition, PPE blocked the AOM-induced impairment of biochemical indicators of oxidative stress in the examined colonic tissue homogenates. The results suggest that PPE can partially inhibit the development of colonic premalignant lesions in an AOM-induced colorectal carcinogenesis model, by abrogating oxidative stress and improving the redox status of colonic cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2010

Aldose reductase (AR), the principal enzyme of the polyol pathway, has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. Evaluating natural sources for ARI potential may lead to the development of safer and more effective agents against diabetic complications. Sixty four Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, thirteen herbal medicines, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. (whole plant), Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand. Mazz. (whole plant), Lonicera hypoglauca Miq. (leaf, stem), Scutellaria orthocalyx Hang. Mazz. (whole plant), Berchemia floribunda Brongn. (leaf, stem), Michelia alba DC. (flower), Oroxylum indicum (seed), Punica granatum L. (peel), Elsholtzia capituligera (whole plant), Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. (whole plant), Elsholtzia strobilifera Benth. (whole plant), Agrimonia pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai (whole plant) and Aster poliothamnus Diels (whole plant) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against AR. Particularly, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. showed seven times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control, 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG).

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2010

The pomegranate (Punica granatum), especially its fruit, possesses a vast ethnomedical history and represents a phytochemical reservoir of heuristic medical value. The tree and fruit can be divided into several anatomical compartments, and the fruit juice, peel and oil are known to be weakly estrogenic and heuristically of interest for treatment of menopausal symptoms and sequellae. In this study, analysis of estrogen in pomegranate extract was carried out with LC/MS/MS. Three batches of pomegranate extract samples were used to analysis the target compounds (estrogen). The contents of estrogen derivatives in the samples were 38.6 ppb of estriol, 83.5 ppb of estrone, and 10.9 ppb of estradiol. This result suggests that the pomegranate extract can used for treatment of menopause symptoms in the woman.