Insights & Discussion
Pomegranate has a variety of phytochemicals which possess wide-ranging activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-oncogenic properties, and resistance to cerebrovascular disease.
The paper presents an overview of the traditional medicine theories of pomegranate, its origin and spread along the Silk Road, ethnopharmacological uses, chemical compositions, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and the involved pathways. Information was collected from various published sources like ancient and modern texts, medicinal plant monographs, pharmacopoeias and diverse electronic databases.
Pomegranates, being widely cultivated in Central Asia and having spread throughout China via the Silk Road, have had significant usage in many traditional medical systems over time. They are identified to contain a vast array of phytochemicals like tannins, organic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and volatile oils. These compounds are observed to have extensive activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-oncogenic properties, and also provide resistance to cerebrovascular disease. The research additionally presents a summary of the promising pharmacological pathways linked with pomegranate.
Discover Related Insights
Pomegranate juice can enhance memory function and brain activity in tasks related to verbal and visual memory in older adults experiencing memory problems.
2013 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Pomegranate Juice Augments Memory and fMRI Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Mild Memory Complaints Bookheimer SY, Renner BA, Ekstrom A, Li Z, Henning SM, Brown JA, et al.
Experimental Study Brain Health Memory Pomegranate
The study was a preliminary, placebo-controlled, randomized trial involving 32 older participants with memory complaints. They were randomly tasked to consume 8 ounces of either pomegranate juice or a placebo drink that had a similar flavor daily for a duration of 4 weeks. Before and after the study duration, the subjects underwent memory tests and functional MRI scans while involved in cognitive tasks. Additionally, blood samples were extracted to ascertain peripheral biomarkers. The test subjects and investigators were oblivious to the groupings to ensure objectivity.
The results from the study pointed out that the group that had pomegranate juice had notable improvements in their verbal memory as determined by the Buschke selective reminding test and also a rise in their antioxidant capacity. This group also recorded increased fMRI activity during tasks related to verbal and visual memory in comparison to the placebo group. This may suggest that consumption of pomegranate juice may boost memory function by elevating functional brain activity during tasks.