Pharmacological benefits of Ellagic acid:
1. Antioxidant potential
Antioxidants are the naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals, which are highly reactive atoms or molecules that interfere with normal cellular functions. Free radicals can cause cellular damage to cellular components including RNA/DNA, which can potentially lead to cancer. They can also alter cholesterol in an oxidation process in the arteries. This process appears to speed up the onset of atherosclerosis. Kishore R.K. et al2 evaluated the protective role of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit extract (200μg/egg) which has shown antioxidant capacity higher than that of red wine and green tea against Adriamycin-induced oxidative stress in chick embryos.
2. Skin lightening / Anti - Ageing potential.
Pacheco - Palenica LA et al3 investigated potential protective effects of pomegranate fruit extract against UVA- and UVB-induced damage in SKU-1064 human skin fibroblast cells. Pomegranate extract, within 5 to 60 mg/L range was effective in protecting human skin fibroblasts from cell death following UV exposure. They also found that higher polyphenolic concentrations (500-10000 mg/L) were needed to achieve a significant reduction in UV-induced reactive oxygen species levels and increased intracellular antioxidant capacity (from 1.9 to 8.6 M Trolox equivalents/mL). The above study concluded that the Pomegranate extract has a © 2010 SABINSA CORPORATION Page 3 protective effect against UVA- and UVB-induced cell damage and thus has potential use in topical applications.
Pomegranate extract in Nutricosmetics (Oral Cosmetics):
The efficacy of ellagic acid in inhibiting melanogenesis was examined by Shimogaki et al5 in vitro and in vivo. Ellagic acid was found to react specifically with copper located at the active centre of the tyrosinase molecule and hence suppress skin pigmentation. In another set of experiments Shimogaki et al5 showed that Ellagic acid is comparable to Hydroquinone at 1% concentration in suppressing skin pigmentation. Also, they concluded that Ellagic acid reacts with UV induced and activated melanocytes and does not affect the normal cells. Ellagic acid was found to be better than the other well known skin-lightening agents like Kojic acid and Arbutin. The authors from Japan concluded that Ellagic acid is a safe skin-whitening agent for use in cosmetic and quasi-products.
Clinical Trial on Ellagic Acid:
Kouichi Kasai et al6 conducted a double blind, placebo – controlled clinical trial, to evaluate the protective and ameliorative effects of Ellagic acid on pigmentation in the skin after ultraviolet ray (UV) radiation. The Ellagic acid rich pomegranate extract was sponsored by SABINSA JAPAN. © 2010 SABINSA CORPORATION Page 4 39 female subjects in their 20s and 40s were considered for this study. The authors found that the Ellagic acid rich Pomegranate extract, ingested orally, has a protective effect on slight sunburn caused by UV irradiation even at very low doses (100mg/d).
Safety studies
A 90-day sub-chronic toxicity study was performed by M. Tasaki et al7 in F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5% in powdered basal diet, with actual doses of 9.4, 19.1, 39.1 g/kg b.w., respectively, in males, and 10.1, 20.1, 42.3 g/kg b.w., respectively in females. No mortality or treatment-related clinical signs were observed throughout the experimental period. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was estimated to be 5% for males and females.
5 Pages Write up written by Sabinsa on Pomegranat Ellagic acid extract