Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols Research Articles

Characteristics of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel polyphenols encapsulated with whey protein isolate and β-cyclodextrin by spray-drying

Pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPPs) are recognized as promising food additives due to their diverse bioactivities; however, their application is limited by poor stability. To address this critical issue, three types of PPPs microcapsules were prepared using β-cyclodextrin (CD), whey protein isolate (WPI), and a composite material of CD-WPI through ultrasound treatment (US). Results revealed that ultrasound treatment can enhance the PPPs-wall material interaction, as evidenced by MD simulations. The encapsulation efficiency of CD-WPI-PPPs was 93.73 %, which was significantly higher than that of CD-PPPs and WPI-PPPs (p < 0.05). The degradation rate constant of CD-WPI-PPPs was reduced by 95.83 %, and its t1/2 was extended by 23-fold compared to that of unencapsulated PPPs. Furthermore, CD-WPI-PPPs exhibited greater DPPH scavenging activity and inhibited polyphenol release during oral and gastric digestion while promoting release during intestinal digestion. These outcomes were attributed to enhanced integrity and interactions between PPPs and composite materials in the microcapsules formed through ultrasound treatment, as supported by SEM images and FT-IR spectra. Consequently, the application of US in the preparation of PPPs microcapsules presents a promising strategy for developing natural nutrient additives for food applications, thereby enhancing the functional properties of food products.

Bio-coloration and Antibacterial Function of Wool grafted with pomegranate peel polyphenols catalyzed by laccase

With the deterioration of environmental problems and world energy consumption, the improvement of textile dyeing has been paid more and more attention by researchers. The application of natural dyes in the dyeing of wool fabrics had become a research hotspot. However, the main drawback of the application of natural dyes lies in the poor color stability on wool fabrics. Therefore, research on environmentally and economically friendly dyeing processes has gained crucial importance. In this paper, the effect of pomegranate pigment on the functional dyeing of wool fabric under the catalysis of laccase was discussed. The dyeing effect of different methods on wool fabric was compared and the laccase catalytic dyeing process was optimized. Firstly, the properties of pomegranate peel pigment were analyzed by Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum (UV-Vis) and Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Then the surface morphology and properties of wool fabric were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), microscope and FTIR. Lastly the function and stability of dyed wool fabric were tested by color characteristic value, UV resistance, antibacterial property, color fastness and tensile strength. The results showed that better dyeing effect of wool fabric were obtained by dyeing firstly with pomegranate peel and then catalysis with laccase. The optimum process of laccase catalysis was as follows: catalysis time 8 h, laccase dosage 3.3 U, temperature 50℃, pH 5. The results of SEM, FTIR and microscope tests showed that the phenolic compounds in the pigment of pomegranate peel was catalyzed by laccase to form the deepened coloration polymers and the phenolic polymers were finally combined with the wool fabric. Laccase-catalyzed dyed wool fabric showed good performance stability, such as color fastness to rubbing and soap-washing, strong antibacterial property, great enhancement of UV resistance and excellent tensile strength. The application of laccase in the natural dyeing process of textiles can provide a better way to improve the dyeing properties.

In Silico Study of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols as Breast Anticancer

In Silico Study of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols as Breast Anticancer

Pomegranate peel polyphenols improves diet-induced obesity and promotes adipose browning development through gut microbiota in mice

Pomegranate peel polyphenols improves diet-induced obesity and promotes adipose browning development through gut microbiota in mice

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis of pomegranate peel polyphenols and preliminary study on the biosynthesis of ellagic acid and flavonoids

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis of pomegranate peel polyphenols and preliminary study on the biosynthesis of ellagic acid and flavonoids

Pomegranate peel polyphenols as an antioxidant additive for the development and characterization of a new active pectin edible film

AbstractNatural origin products are an appealing substitute for nonbiodegradable materials in the production of new materials to improve the packaging properties and to extend the shelf life quality of foods. The objective of this study was to formulate, elaborate, select, partially characterize, and evaluate the biological properties of an edible film based on pectin, candelilla wax, and glycerol, added with pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPP). An exploratory design 2k Box Hunter and Hunter was made, followed by a Box‐Behnken design 3k to evaluate the properties of water vapor permeability (WVP) of the film, resulting in the film with 0.75% w/v of pectin, 0.2% w/v of candelilla wax, 0.05% v/v of glycerol and 0.02% w/v of PPP with one of the lowest values of WVP (1.78E−10 g/m.s.Pa). After characterization, this treatment showed good structural and optical properties and low humidity values compared to a control film. PPP showed the inhibitory capacity for DPPH (61.2%) and ABTS (48.5%) radicals and reducing activity with the reduction of ferric ion (FRAP) reaching a value of 1676.5 mg TE/g PPP.

Effect of spray‐dried pomegranate peel polyphenols on the inhibition of lipid oxidation

SummaryPomegranate peel polyphenols, specifically the punicalagin, have gained importance due to their potential antioxidant capacity and because of this different methodologies to encapsulate and protect the polyphenols for proposing their uses have been proposed. The objective of the present work was to optimise the spray drying of pomegranate peel polyphenols and additionally to evaluate their antioxidant activity based on lipid oxidation inhibition. The spray‐drying process was optimised via Taguchi L9 orthogonal array considering the feed flow (3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 mL min−1), temperature (125, 150, and 200 °C), and airflow (30, 35, and 40 m3 h−1). The lipid oxidation inhibition was the response variable. The optimal spray‐drying conditions were experimentally validated, and the changes in polyphenols were analysed by HPLC‐ESI‐MS. The spray‐drying conditions optimised at which the polyphenols better preserved their antioxidant capacity (i.e., 87.40% of inhibition) were feed flow, 4.5 mL min−1; temperature, 125 °C; and airflow, 35 m3 h−1. However, temperature control was the most critical factor for obtaining good quality spray‐dried polyphenols (37.65% of influence). This permitted us to propose that spray‐dried pomegranate peel polyphenols could be used as antioxidants in edible oils.

Effects of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols Combined with Inulin on Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites of High-Fat-Induced Obesity Rats

Pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPPs) and inulin have been reported to have lipid-lowering effects. Here, the effects of PPPs combined with inulin on obesity traits and the change of the gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and serum metabolomics profiles in rats with a high-fat diet (HFD) were investigated. According to the experimental results, PPPs were most effective in reducing the body weight and serum and liver lipid levels. Besides, PPPs ameliorated the disorder of gut microbiota, in particular, the enrichment of SCFA producers, such as Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Bacteroides, and Allobaculum, and the depletion of the Blautia and unclassified Lachnospiraceae population. PPPs also regulated the levels of metabolites changed by HFD feeding via tryptophan metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. The correlation analysis showed that PPPs remitted HFD-induced elevation in triglycerides (TGs), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels and lowered high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels through regulating the gut microbiota, SCFAs, and related metabolites. These findings elucidated that PPPs have a good anti-obesity effect. This study extends the understanding of PPP effects on high-fat-induced obesity, which includes the relationship among gut microbiota, SCFAs, serum metabolites, and TG-, IL-6- and TNF-α- lowering and HDL-elevating functions.

Anticancer Effect of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols against Cervical Cancer.

Polyphenols are a broad group of bioactive phytochemicals with powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiviral activities. Numerous studies have demonstrated that polyphenol extracts obtained from natural sources can be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Pomegranate peel extract is an excellent source of polyphenols, such as punicalagin, punicalin, ellagic acid, and caffeic acid, among others. These phenolic compounds have antineoplastic activity in in vitro models of cervical cancer through the regulation of cellular redox balance, induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and modulation of different signaling pathways. The current review summarizes recent data from scientific reports that address the anticancer activity of the predominant polyphenol compounds present in PPE and their different mechanisms of action in cervical cancer models.

New Developments in the Mechanism of Action of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols

Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols are a kind of polyphenolic hydroxyl compounds mainly found in pomegranate peel, whose components include nine compounds including amphiregulin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, epicatechin, kaempferol, caffeic acid and quercetin. The results of numerous studies show that pomegranate peel polyphenols have various biological functions such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor. And in recent years, the application of pomegranate peel polyphenols in oral cavity, especially in the treatment of periodontitis, has become a research hotspot. Therefore, this paper reviews the research on the function and application value of pomegranate peel polyphenols in the treatment of systemic and periodontitis by domestic and foreign scholars in recent years, which provides some reference value for the further development and utilization of pomegranate peel polyphenols.

Compositions and Biological Activities of Pomegranate Peel Polyphenols Extracted by Different Solvents.

Pomegranate peel extract (PPE), which is abundant in polyphenols, holds immerse prospects for the treatment of airway infection. In this study, water and ethanol of 30%, 50%, and 80% were used to prepare PPE. A total of 18 phenols belonging to 8 categories of polyphenols were identified in PPE by HPLC-MS/MS. The PPE from the four extraction solvents possessed different antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Principal component analysis revealed that though total flavonoids (TFs), total polyphenols (TPs), and total tannins (TTs) were responsible for the reducing power of PPE, only TFs contributed to the effect of PPE in inhibiting lipid membrane peroxidation. TPs, TTs, and punicalagin were positively correlated with the antibacterial strength against S. aureus while TTs alone contributed to the inhibition of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, implying the crucial role of TT in suppressing bacteria. Meanwhile, TTs was associated with the prevention of IL-6 release. The PPE with higher contents of TPs, TTs, and punicalagin had a weaker capacity to decrease nitric oxide secretion. PPE of 30% ethanol gained the highest integrated score due to its stronger antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. It is a suitable candidate for the therapy of respiratory tract infection.

Pomegranate peel polyphenols interaction with intestinal flora and its metabolic transformation

1. Pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPPs) have anti-oxidation, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-obesity effect, and so on. However, few studies have been conducted on the absorption and transformation of pomegranate polyphenols in the gut and the biologically active forms that ultimately work in the body. 2. In this study, PPPs (300 mg/kg/day) were given to normal rats and relatively sterile rats by gavage respectively. The relatively sterile rats were obtained by neomycin sulfate (250 mg/kg/day) gavage to rats. The purpose of this study is to elaborate the relationship between intestinal flora and polyphenol metabolism of pomegranate peel, and to quantitatively analyze the transformation process of its metabolite urolithin in rats. 3. The results showed that decreased bacterial diversity could significantly reduce the abundance of PPPs metabolites in feces and urine in relatively sterile rats. PPPs can regulate intestinal flora structure, significantly enhance the content of Clostrida Firmicutes (P < 0.05), and effectively promote acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, iso-butyric acid and valeric acid production in rat (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 or P< 0.001). PPPs can significantly elevate the relative proportion of Ruminococcaceae (P < 0.05). Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 can promote the metabolic transformation of PPPs and make the utilization of Urolithin A more effective.

Pomegranate peel polyphenols alleviate insulin resistance through the promotion of insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of metabolic syndrome rats

Insulin resistance (IR) has been considered to be an important causative factor of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study investigated whether pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPPs) could prevent the development of MetS by improving IR in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed high fat diet (HFD) to induce MetS and supplemented with different dosages of PPPs for 12 weeks. The results showed that HFD-induced insulin resistant rats had disordered metabolism of blood glucose, blood lipid, and terrible muscle fiber morphology when compared with normal diet-fed rats, but PPPs treatment at a dosage of 300 mg/kg·day significantly reversed these negative effects. Moreover, in skeletal muscle tissue of insulin resistant rats, PPPs treatments significantly increased the protein expressions of insulin receptor (InsR) and phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), stimulated peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT/PKB) signaling pathway, and aggrandized the protein levels of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). Our results suggest that PPPs possess of the beneficial effects on alleviating IR by enhancing insulin sensitivity and regulating glucose metabolism.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of polyphenols on the outcomes of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is commonly associated with hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation which are well known cardiovascular risk factors. Pomegranate peel polyphenols have a proven hypolipemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. However, there is a lack of clinical studies that would confirm its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in diabetic patients. The potential of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) to counteract inflammation and oxidative stress in T2DM patients was investigated. For this purpose, a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study involving adult T2DM patients treated with PoPEx or placebo for eight-weeks was conducted. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first group (n = 30) received capsules containing PoPEx 250 mg twice daily, while the placebo group (n = 30) received placebo capsules twice daily. Plasma concentration of inflammatory factors (interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP)), oxidative stress biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrites (NO2-), superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)), homocysteine and lipid profile were analyzed. The PoPEx treatment showed a significant reduction of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP), oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, NO2-, O2-) and homocysteine, while the TAC was increased. Moreover, a significant improvement in lipid profile was observed in the PoPEx group. Additional analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between the decrements of all measured inflammatory markers and TAC in the PoPEx group. The study demonstrated that eight-week-long PoPEx administration had favorable effects on inflammatory status and oxidative stress biomarkers in diabetic patients.

Pomegranate peel-derived punicalagin: Ultrasonic-assisted extraction, purification, and its α-glucosidase inhibitory mechanism

The pomegranate peel is a by-product of pomegranate fruit rich in polyphenols. In this study, pomegranate peel polyphenols were explored using LC-MS/MS, and punicalagin was the most abundant compound. The highest yield (505.89 ± 1.73 mg/g DW) of punicalagin was obtained by ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) with the ethanol concentration of 53%, sample-to-liquid ratio of 1:25 w/v, ultrasonic power of 757 W, and extraction time of 25 min. Punicalagin was further purified by the macroporous resin D101 and prep-HPLC, reaching the purity of 92.15%. The purified punicalagin had the IC50 of 82 ± 0.02 µg/mL against α-glucosidase, similar to the punicalagin standard with IC50 of 58 ± 0.014 µg/mL, both exhibiting a mixed inhibitory mechanism. Molecular docking further revealed that a steric hindrance with the intermolecular energy of −7.99 kcal/mol was formed between punicalagin and α-glucosidase. Overall, pomegranate peel is a promising source of punicalagin to develop anti-diabetic functional foods.

Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharide nanofiber containing pomegranate peel polyphenol/chitosan nanoparticles for control of E. coli O157:H7

Pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPP), which are natural, safe, and green antibacterial agents, were introduced and embedded in chitosan to form stable nanoparticles. The PPP@chitosan nanoparticles (PPP@CNPs) were further electrospun into nanofibers based on Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharide (PEP). The preferable distribution of particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential was realized through the addition of PPP at 3 mg/mL, which achieved the highest encapsulation rate of 23.71 ± 0.51%. The tensile strength and elongation at break of nanofibers reached 15.76 MPa and 0.69% with the addition of 1% PEP through electrospinning. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated that the addition of nanoparticles increased the diameter of PEP nanofibers from 148 nm to 163 nm, and the surface roughness of the fibers also increased. Meanwhile, the addition of nanoparticles improved the thermal stability of PEP nanofibers. PPP@CNPs/PEP nanofibers can inhibit the growth of E. coli O157:H7 on pork and cucumber surfaces during the five-days storage, and the inhibition rates were all above 95%. Besides, the nanofibers did not have any impact on the color and texture of foods.

Pomegranate peel polyphenols prophylaxis against SARS-CoV-2 main protease by in-silico docking and molecular dynamics study

Pomegranate peel, the waste product generated from pomegranate fruit, has prophylactic properties, such as antimicrobial, anti-malarial, and controls respiratory infections and influenza. Based on the previous literature and need of the hour, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of major pomegranate peel polyphenols against COVID-19. Among the 44 studied compounds, 37 polyphenols show interaction with the catalytic dyad of the Mpro protease and 18 polyphenols have a higher binding affinity than that of the Mpro protease inhibitor (N3), indicating their high probability of binding at ACE2: SARS-CoV-2 interface. Furthermore, several polyphenols studied in this work are found to have higher binding affinity as compared to those of hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, nelfinavir, and curcumin, some of which have been earlier tested against COVID-19. Further, molecular dynamics simulations (200 ns) for Mpro–polyphenols including pelargonidin3-glucoside, quercetin3-O-rhamnoside, cyanidin3-glucoside and punicalin revealed highly stable complexes with less conformational fluctuations and similar degree of compactness. Estimation of total number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and binding free energy confirmed the stability of these Mpro–polyphenol complexes over Mpro–curcumin complex. Based on the greater binding affinity of polyphenols of pomegranate peel towards Mpro as compared to that of curcumin, pomegranate peel may be considered in any herbal medicinal formulation or may be incorporated into daily diets for prevention of COVID-19. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

An Evaluation of the Effects of a Non-caffeinated Energy Dietary Supplement on Cognitive and Physical Performance: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.

A large and growing body of research shows that non-caffeinated plant-based nutritional supplements can increase cognitive and physical performance. This study aimed to build on this work by investigating the possibility that a specific botanical blend (consisting of Bacopa monnieri bacosides, Kaempferia parviflora methoxy flavones, pomegranate peel polyphenols, and Moringa oleifera leaf saponins) could improve cognitive and physical performance. To this end, we carried out a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 21-day parallel study on 36 healthy adults. We compared the effects of the botanical blend at baseline to a caffeine and a placebo condition on 1) self-reported alertness, anxiety, and headaches; 2) multiple measures of attention and cognition; 3) physical performance; and 4) stress biomarkers. We found that relative to baseline and compared to the Caffeine and Placebo groups, the botanical blend increased alertness and improved cognitive performance. The cognitive effects were most robust for attention measures. The botanical blend did not improve physical performance on a time to exhaustion (TTE) test. Of note, there was not the expected increase in catecholamine response after the TTE on Day 21, suggesting that long-term botanical blend use decreases the catecholamine stress response of a physical endurance task. In conclusion, we show that, within the confines of this study, a combination of the botanical blend could serve as a safe and effective nutritional supplement to improve cognitive performance.

Punicalagin Attenuates Disturbed Flow-Induced Vascular Dysfunction by Inhibiting Force-Specific Activation of Smad1/5.

BackgroundPathophysiological vascular remodeling in response to disturbed flow with low and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) plays important roles in atherosclerosis progression. Pomegranate extraction (PE) was reported having anti-atherogenic effects. However, whether it can exert a beneficial effect against disturbed flow-induced pathophysiological vascular remodeling to inhibit atherosclerosis remains unclear. The present study aims at investigating the anti-atherogenic effects of pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPP) extraction and its purified compound punicalagin (PU), as well as their protective effects on disturbed flow-induced vascular dysfunction and their underlying molecular mechanisms.MethodsThe anti-atherogenic effects of PPP/PU were examined on low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice fed with a high fat diet. The vaso-protective effects of PPP/PU were examined in rat aortas using myograph assay. A combination of in vivo experiments on rats and in vitro flow system with human endothelial cells (ECs) was used to investigate the pharmacological actions of PPP/PU on EC dysfunction induced by disturbed flow. In addition, the effects of PPP/PU on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction were also examined.ResultsPU is the effective component in PPP against atherosclerosis. PPP/PU evoked endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aortas. PPP/PU inhibited the activation of Smad1/5 in the EC layers at post-stenotic regions of rat aortas exposed to disturbed flow with OSS. PPP/PU suppressed OSS-induced expression of cell cycle regulatory and pro-inflammatory genes in ECs. Moreover, PPP/PU inhibited inflammation-induced VSMC dysfunction.ConclusionPPP/PU protect against OSS-induced vascular remodeling through inhibiting force-specific activation of Smad1/5 in ECs and this mechanism contributes to their anti-atherogenic effects.

Application of response surface methodology for the co-optimization of extraction and probiotication of phenolic compounds from pomegranate fruit peels (Punica granatum L.)

Currently, the synergistic interactions between plant polyphenols and probiotic bacteria are gaining interest with diverse perspectives of applications of both functional ingredients. This study aims to explore and optimize the interaction between pomegranate peel polyphenols and the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103, throughout the co-optimization of the extraction/probiotication techniques. In this context, the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to find the suitable extraction conditions to obtain phenolic extracts exhibiting a synergistic interaction when fermented with the probiotic strain. A s-Cyclodextrin ultrasound-assisted extraction technique has been applied for pomegranate polyphenols extraction, followed by the probiotic fermentation of extracts. Results of RSM indicate that for all chosen design responses, the experimental values are in good agreement with the predicted one, with R squared values above 0.8 for all prediction models. Using optimal conditions predicted by the desirability function, it has been found that after probiotication of optimized phenolic extracts, the growth of probiotic strain at presence of polyphenols was possible. Moreover, a significant (p < 0.05) improvement of in vitro antioxidant activity of probioticated extracts was confirmed (an increase on in vitro free radical scavenging activity up to 51.37%). Results of this study, demonstrate for the first time, the feasibility of RSM approach to perform simultaneously the optimization of extraction and probiotication processes of phenolic compounds with the perspective to develop a new bioprocess aiming to produce functional food ingredient or novel nutraceutical products containing both bioactive polyphenols and beneficial probiotic bacteria.