• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2015

Quorum sensing (QS) is involved in the process of cell-to-cell communication and as a gene regulatory mechanism, which has been implicated in bacterial pathogenicity. Bacteria use this QS system to control a variety of physiological processes. In this study, pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) was first screened for its ability to inhibit QS in bio-reporter strains (Chromobacterium violaceum and C. violaceum CV026). Next, the ability of PPE to inhibit swimming motility and biofilm formation was examined in Y. enterocolitica. Additionally, changes in the expression of specific genes involved in the synthesis of the N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs; yenI and yenR) and in the flagellar regulon (fliA, fleB and flhDC) were evaluated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. The results show that PPE specifically inhibited and reduced QS-controlled violacein production by 78.5% in C. violaceum CV026, and decreased QS-associated biofilm formation and swimming motility in Y. enterocolitica without significantly affecting bacterial growth. These inhibitory effects were also associated with the down-regulation of gene expression involved in the synthesis of AHLs and in motility. Our results suggest that PPE could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent enteropathogens in humans, as well as highlight the need to further investigate the in vivo properties of PPE for clinical applications.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2017

Purpose: Pomegranate has been reported to exhibit medical properties such as antimicrobial, antimutagenic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Especially the pomegranate peel as a by-product of the juice industry possesses more polyphenols with an antioxidant effect than the pomegranate flesh does. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the pomegranate peel on the quality characteristics of steamed bread. Methods: Steamed bread containing pomegranate peel was prepared with 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% replacements of wheat flour with pomegranate peel powder, respectively. Results: The pH of dough significantly decreased from 5.66 to 4.42 with the amounts of pomegranate peel powder rising. After a 1st fermentation, the pH of all groups decreased. With an increase of the pomegranate peel powder level, the fermentation tension decreased from 42.83 mL to 29.03 mL. In addition, the volume, the specific volume, and moisture decreased as the pomegranate peel powder content level heightened. For color, steamed bread added with 7% pomegranate peel powder displayed low lightness but high redness and yellowness. In texture analysis, hardness and chewiness of the steamed bread rose as the pomegranate peel powder content increased, while the springiness and cohesiveness declined. Both total polyphenol and DPPH radical scavenging activity significantly increased with growing levels of pomegranate peel powder. In a sensory evaluation, the group with 1% pomegranate peel powder added showed the highest sensory preference scores for color, flavor, chewiness, taste, and overall acceptability. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that steamed bread prepared with the addition of 1% pomegranate peel powder is the most optimal product for appropriate quality characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.906-913
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality characteristics of white bean based Yanggaeng containing various levels of pomegranate powder (0, 2, 4 and 8%, w/w). The pH values of Yanggaeng containing pomegranate powder were found to decrease when increasing the amount of pomegranate powder. However, moisture and sugar contents were increased (p<0.05). For color values, both L and b values were reduced by increasing the amount of pomegranate powder, while a values were increased significantly (p<0.05). In textural properties, the addition of pomegranate powder resulted in the increase of hardness, chewiness and gumminess, while cohesiveness and springiness decreased. Antioxidant activities, evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and total phenolic substances content increased when increasing the amount of pomegranate powder. Results of descriptive analysis showed that by increasing the amount of pomegranate powder, some attributes such as the intensity of the flavor, sourness, hardness and chewiness increased (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in sweetness. In a preference test, Yanggaeng containing 4% pomegranate powder appeared to be the most preferred for all attributes tested including overall acceptability. It was concluded that Yanggaeng containing pomegranate can be prepared with good sensory properties and antioxidant activities, and the addition of 4% pomegranate powder was found to be ideal.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2013

In recent years, polyphenol-rich herbs, fruits and processed foods, which are made of plant origin, have attracted much attention due to their potential health benefits. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important source of bioactive compounds and has been used to treat diseases because of its medicinal properties. This research was focused on characterizing Korea's national cultivar and a similar product from California, USA. To evaluate their bioactive compounds and pharmacological activities, their anti-oxidation and cancer inhibition properties, as well as their organic acid and free sugar contents, were investigated. The national cultivar had low total sugar and high organic acid contents, contrary to the imported product. The results showed that the peel of national cultivar had high polyphenol and ellagic acid contents compared to imported product. The free radical scavenging capacity was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and its positive correlation with the total polyphenol contents was found. The anti-cancer activity of methanol extracts revealed growth inhibition against the prostate cancer cell. These results signify that while pomegranate, national cultivar, is more sour than the imported product, its health benefits could be excellent. Also, the polyphenol compound content of the non-edible part (such as the peel and the seed) was higher than that of the juice. Thus, it is suggested that the byproduct of the juice extraction could be potentially used in other fields such as medicine or dietary agents.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2010

The pomegranate (Punica granatum), especially its fruit, possesses a vast ethnomedical history and represents a phytochemical reservoir of heuristic medical value. The tree and fruit can be divided into several anatomical compartments, and the fruit juice, peel and oil are known to be weakly estrogenic and heuristically of interest for treatment of menopausal symptoms and sequellae. In this study, analysis of estrogen in pomegranate extract was carried out with LC/MS/MS. Three batches of pomegranate extract samples were used to analysis the target compounds (estrogen). The contents of estrogen derivatives in the samples were 38.6 ppb of estriol, 83.5 ppb of estrone, and 10.9 ppb of estradiol. This result suggests that the pomegranate extract can used for treatment of menopause symptoms in the woman.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1063-1072
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• 2011

This study analyzed the functional components and antioxidant activities of pomegranate juice and pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts by comparing Korean and Iranian pomegranates. Korean pomegranate husk (KPH) had the highest total polyphenol content among the pomegranate extracts, and total phytoestrogen content was highest in Korean pomegranate endocarp (KPE). Iranian pomegranate endocarp (IPE) and Iranian pomegranate husk (IPH) showed the highest flavonoid levels. Overall, Korean pomegranate had more functional components than those in Iranian pomegranate. KPE had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase like-activity among all of the extracts, and KPH had the highest nitrite scavenging activity. IPE showed the highest superoxide anion scavenging activity. The ABTS$^+$ assay also indicated that IPH had the highest antioxidant activities. This study also showed that the more total polyphenols, flavonols, and phytoestrogens the pomegranate contained, the higher antioxidant activities. A positive correlation was observed between total polyphenol, flavonol and phytoestrogen levels and antioxidant activities. Korean pomegranates contained more functional components and had higher antioxidant activity than those of Iranian pomegranates. Additionally, pomegranate endocarp and seed extracts were better than pomegranate juice in terms of functional components and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts as well as pomegranate juice may have value as natural antioxidants with their high quality functional components and antioxidant activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2011

This study was designed to investigate antioxidant activities of pomegranate endocarp extracts. Pomegranate endocarp extract contains the highest antioxidant function compared to pomegranate extracts from other parts. Pomegranate endocarp extract was fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol extract, and water, followed by evaluation for antioxidant activity. During this experiment, various antioxidant tests such as nitrite scavenging activity, reducing power, superoxide anion scavenging activity, $ABTS^+$ scavenging activity, SOD like-activity, and DPPH radical scavenging activity were conducted on the $CH_2Cl_2$, EtOAc, BuOH, $H_2O$ fractions of pomegranate endocarp extract. Results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity among the samples. For SOD like-activity, the dichloromethane fraction had the highest antioxidant activity. For superoxide anion scavenging activity, the ethyl acetate fraction had the highest antioxidant activity. In the $ABTS^+$ scavenging activity test, the ethyl acetate fraction $IC_{50}$ was 39.26 ${\mu}g$/mL, whereas that of the butanol fraction was 40.95 ${\mu}g$/mL. In testing reduction power at 0.1 mg/mL, the O.D. of the ethyl acetate fraction was highest at 1.404 and showed higher activity than ascorbic acid at 1.332. The results of the nitrite scavenging activity test were very similar to those of the SOD like-activity test. These results suggest that pomegranate endocarp extract may have value as a natural antioxidant.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by fat accumulation and is associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract (PPE) against oxidative stress in the liver of rats with NAFLD. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD), 20% corn oil, or palm oil for 8 weeks in the presence or absence of PPE. The control group was fed a basal diet. The progression of NAFLD was evaluated histologically and by measuring liver enzymes (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase), serum lipids (triglycerides and total cholesterol), and oxidative stress markers. The HFD feeding increased the body weight and caused NAFLD, liver steatosis, hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress, and elevated liver enzymes. Administration of PPE ameliorated the hepatic morphology, reduced body weight, improved liver enzymes, and inhibited lipogenesis. Furthermore, PPE enhanced the cellular redox status in the liver tissue of rats with NAFLD. Our findings suggest that PPE could improve HFD-induced NAFLD via abolishment of hepatic oxidative damage and hyperlipidemia. PPE might be considered as a potential lead material in the treatment of NAFLD and obesity through the modulation of lipid metabolism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4051-4055
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• 2012

Functional foods include antioxidant nutrients which may protect against many human chronic diseases by combating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in rats as an in vivo experimental model. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups containing 10 rats per group, and were treated with either AOM, PPE, or PPE plus AOM or injected with 0.9% physiological saline solution as a control. At 8 weeks of age, the rats in the AOM and PPE plus AOM groups were injected with 15 mg AOM/kg body weight, once a week for two weeks. After the last AOM injection, the rats were continuously fed ad-libitum their specific diets for another 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment (i.e. at the age of 4 months), all rats were killed and the colon tissues were examined microscopically for lesions suspected of being preneoplastic lesions or tumors as well as for biochemical measurement of oxidative stress indices. The results revealed a lower incidence of aberrant crypt foci in the PPE plus AOM administered group as compared to the AOM group. In addition, PPE blocked the AOM-induced impairment of biochemical indicators of oxidative stress in the examined colonic tissue homogenates. The results suggest that PPE can partially inhibit the development of colonic premalignant lesions in an AOM-induced colorectal carcinogenesis model, by abrogating oxidative stress and improving the redox status of colonic cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.265-275
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• 2023

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fruit juices on Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens involved in Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among tribal women in the district Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods: Fresh juices of lemon (Citrus limon), amla/Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica), pineapple (Ananas comosus), mosambi/sweet lime (Citrus limetta), orange (Citrus sinensis), kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), and pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruits were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against bacterial pathogens involved in UITs and STIs among tribal women. Physico-chemical analysis of fresh fruits was also carried out by measuring the pH, moisture, protein, fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate, and ascorbic acid content. Results: Lemon and amla juice showed better antibacterial activity against the pathogens as compared to other juices. MIC results fruit juices against UTIs and STIs pathogens vary depending on the specific pathogen and juice chemical constituents. The physico-chemical analysis showed that the moisture content was highest in mosambi (90%), followed by orange (87%). Ascorbic acid content was found highest in amla (540 mg/100 g), followed by kiwi (90.3 mg/100 g). Pomegranate showed highest concentration of carbohydrate (15.28 g/100 g), fat (1.28 g/100 g), and protein (1.65 g/100 g). Lemon juice had lowest pH of 2.20, followed by amla 2.67. Conclusion: The lemon juice showed highest antibacterial activity against MDR bacterial pathogens involved in UTIs and STIs among tribal women in district Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. The low pH of lemon may be responsible for its high antibacterial activity as compared to other juices.