Pomegranate Seed Oil

Pomegranate seed oil is derived from the seeds of species Punica granatum. The pomegranate is rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B complex and vitamin C and flavonoids and polyphenols that provides the antioxidant capacity of the fruit. Pomegranate seed oil is rich in Punic acid. This fatty acid has antiatherogenic effects, i.e. hinders the formation of plaques in the arteries. The Flavones presented in Pomegranate seed Oil has a high activity antimicrobial and anticancer, demonstrating effectiveness in inhibiting the proliferation particularly in breast cancer cells and prostate. Carbon dioxide extracted from pomegranate seed oil moisturizes and nourishes the skin, and protect against free radicals. The oil polyphenols provide a potent anti-oxidant activity that can assist in reducing the signs of aging.

The Punic acid is one type of fatty acid that has antiatherogenic effects, i.e. hinders the formation of plaques in the arteries, and other properties.

The pomegranate seeds also are high activity antimicrobial and anticancer. Demonstrating effectiveness in inhibiting the proliferation particularly in breast and prostate cancer cells.

The CO2 extracted from pomegranate seed oil moisturizes and nourishes the skin and protects the skin from free radicals. Oil polyphenols provide the potent antioxidant activity that can help reduce signs of aging. Flavones present in the oil pomegranate seed, provide the anticancer activity.

The ability to effect a blocking of endogenous activity was shown by polyphenols present in the fermented juice, pericarp and seed oil, which inhibit aromatase activity 60-80%.

In a study conducted oil from pomegranate seed showed inhibition in average up to 90% of MCF-7 proliferation.
 

· Estrogen action

Mori Okamoto et. Al. (2004) reported that pomegranate has estrogenic phyto such as estradiol, estriol and estrone, with estrogenic activity in rats. In the administration of the fruit extract or seeds, in ovariectomized rats, mimicking menopause, observed the maintenance of uterine weight and normal bone metabolism, decreased absorption, showing the histomorphometric and radiographic analysis.
 

· Anticancer action

The Israel Institute of technology presented two studies at an International Conference, indicating that the pomegranate seed oil promotes the triggers of apoptosis, a mechanism of self-destruction in breast cancer cells.

In the first study, breast cancer cells were treated for three days with the pomegranate seed oil. In the research apoptosis were observed in 37 56% of cancer cells, depending on the applied dosage oil.

In the second study, normal and cancer cells were exposed to the fermented juice of pomegranate and the bark extract containing polyphenols. Most normal cells remained unaffected by the extract and pomegranate juice. But more than 75% of the estrogen-dependent cancer cells, and approximately half of the non-estrogen dependent cancer cells were destroyed by the same display pomegranate administrations.

"The pomegranate is unique in hormone combination inherent in the fruit, it is useful both the prevention and treatment of breast cancer." Explains Dr. Ephraim Lansky, who led the study. "The pomegranate seems to replace the need to frequently prescribed estrogens in postmenopausal women protect against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, while acting destroying cancer cells."
 

· Prevention of cardiovascular disease

We conducted a study of 51 patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides, which were divided into two groups, the first received 400 mg of Pomegranate oil, 2 times a day and another group received placebo, also 2 times a day, both for four weeks. Blood concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL "good cholesterol" and "bad" LDL cholesterol were measured before and after 4 weeks of intervention. After the end of the study it was possible to observe that blood levels of triglycerides/HDL were reduced significantly after 4 weeks of treatment with oil, when compared to pre-intervention values and also compared to values in the placebo group. Have LDL levels and glucose remained unchanged.
 

· Antidiabetic

In a study, were selected in 3 groups of male rats, being 20 per group. They were administered with high fat content + seed oil, high-fat + pomegranate seed oil and fat control. Pomegranate seed oil + high fat content, were supplied to the rats a diet high in fat (60% of energy from fat. The high fat content + pomegranate seed oil was supplemented with 61.79 mg. In slim control were consumed a low fat (10% of energy from FAT) of feed to maintain body weight within 5% of the initial weight. Plasma was analyzed for biomarkers associated with cholesterol profile (total cholesterol, HDL and TAG), sensitivity to glucose (glucose and insulin), the accumulation of adipose tissue and low grade systemic inflammation (P < 0.05). As a result the pomegranate seed oil just changed the accumulation of adipose tissue (leptin and adiponectin) and low grade systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein and haptoglobin). The main conclusions of this study were that the weight gain was associated with an increase in cholesterol profile, biomarkers sensitivity to glucose, the accumulation of adipose tissue and low grade systemic inflammation (P < 0.05). Pomegranate seed oil just changed the final body weight accumulation, adiponectin, leptin and insulin (P < 0.05). Despite a similar level of energy consumption, the rats that were administered with high fat content, had a higher concentration of leptin and a lower concentration of adiponectin in comparison with those who were administered with high fat content + pomegranate seed oil. Ingestion of pomegranate seed oil was associated with an improvement in sensitivity to insulin, suggesting that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced.