Chapter 14 - Pomegranate juice and extract

Abstract

Pomegranate fruit has an extensive history of use as a food and traditional medicine. The parts of pomegranate which have been used medicinally include the fruit, fruit juice, seed, seed oil, bark, rind, root, stem, leaf, and flower. Research on pomegranate has identified broad pharmacological action, including activity as an antioxidant, nitric oxide promoter, anticholesterolemic, antihypertensive, antiviral, antibacterial, anticandidal, and anticancer agents. Human clinical research has largely focused on the use of pomegranate fruit juice and pomegranate fruit extract. This chapter reviews human research on the use of pomegranate juice and pomegranate extract on various aspects of cardiovascular health (modulating risk and progression of atherosclerosis/coronary heart disease, serum lipids, blood pressure, and endothelial function), prostate cancer, exercise, dental health, and ultraviolet ray-induced skin pigmentation.