Punicalagins
Encyclopedia
Punicalagin is an ellagitannin
, a polyphenol compound which are isomers of 2,3-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-4,6-(S,S)-gallagyl-D-glucose, hydrolysable tannins with a molecular weight of 1084. They are found in forms alpha and beta in pomegranate
s. Punicalagins are the largest molecule found intact in rat plasma after oral ingestion and were found to show no toxic effects in rats who were given a 6% diet of punicalagins for 37 days. Punicalagins are also found to be the major component responsible for pomegranate
juice's antioxidant and health benefits.
Punicalagin is water soluble and has high bioavailability. They are known to hydrolyze into smaller polyphenols such as ellagic acid
in vivo where one potential mechanism is hydrolysis across the mitochondrial
membrane of cultured human colon cells.
A pomegranate extract standardized to punicalagins marketed under the name Pomella was found to absorb into the bloodstream after consumption in humans. A maximum 32% increase in plasma antioxidant status measured by ORAC
was also noted in this study.
, species chebula
Retz. (“Fructus Chebulae”), myriocarpa, catappa
and citrina (tropical flowering trees historically used in African traditional medicine for antiobiotic and antifungal purposes). They have also been isolated from Cistus salvifolius (a Mediterranean shrub) and Combretum molle (an African shrub).
Ellagitannin
The ellagitannins are a diverse class of hydrolyzable tannins, a type of polyphenol formed primarily from the oxidative linkage of galloyl groups in 1,2,3,4,6-Pentagalloyl glucose...
, a polyphenol compound which are isomers of 2,3-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-4,6-(S,S)-gallagyl-D-glucose, hydrolysable tannins with a molecular weight of 1084. They are found in forms alpha and beta in pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
s. Punicalagins are the largest molecule found intact in rat plasma after oral ingestion and were found to show no toxic effects in rats who were given a 6% diet of punicalagins for 37 days. Punicalagins are also found to be the major component responsible for pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
juice's antioxidant and health benefits.
Punicalagin is water soluble and has high bioavailability. They are known to hydrolyze into smaller polyphenols such as ellagic acid
Ellagic acid
Ellagic acid is a natural phenol antioxidant found in numerous fruits and vegetables including blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, pecans, pomegranates, wolfberry and other plant foods...
in vivo where one potential mechanism is hydrolysis across the mitochondrial
Mitochondrion
In cell biology, a mitochondrion is a membrane-enclosed organelle found in most eukaryotic cells. These organelles range from 0.5 to 1.0 micrometers in diameter...
membrane of cultured human colon cells.
Extract
A few dietary supplements and nutritional ingredients are available that contain extracts of whole pomegranate and/or are standardized to punicalagins, the marker compound of pomegranate. Extracts of pomegranate are also 'Generally Recognized As Safe' (GRAS) by the United States. It has been recommended to look for pomegranate ingredients that mimic the polyphenol ratio of the fruit, as potent synergistic effects have been observed in 'natural spectrum' extracts, especially pomegranate concentrate normalized to punicalagins.A pomegranate extract standardized to punicalagins marketed under the name Pomella was found to absorb into the bloodstream after consumption in humans. A maximum 32% increase in plasma antioxidant status measured by ORAC
Oxygen radical absorbance capacity
Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities in biological samples in vitro.A wide variety of foods has been tested using this method, with certain spices, berries and legumes rated highly. There exists no physiological proof in vivo that free-radical theory...
was also noted in this study.
Plants
As the chemistry of punicalagin became known it was found to be not unique to pomegranate. Punicalagin is present in numerous species of the genus TerminaliaTerminalia (plant)
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
, species chebula
Terminalia chebula
Terminalia chebula is a species of Terminalia, native to southern Asia from India and Nepal east to southwestern China , and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam.It is a deciduous tree growing to tall, with a trunk up to in diameter...
Retz. (“Fructus Chebulae”), myriocarpa, catappa
Terminalia catappa
Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, Combretaceae. The tree has been spread widely by humans and the native range is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to Northern Australia and New Guinea through Southeast Asia and...
and citrina (tropical flowering trees historically used in African traditional medicine for antiobiotic and antifungal purposes). They have also been isolated from Cistus salvifolius (a Mediterranean shrub) and Combretum molle (an African shrub).