Biological Activity of Phytochemical Compounds in Pomegranate - A Review

Plant phytochemicals in pomegranate including flavonoids, punicalagin, ellagic acid and punicic acid have a wide range of potential applications in human pathology. Classically they act as anti-oxidants through several mechanisms including auto-oxidation and inhibition of lipid peroxidation however their role has expanded into other areas. By interacting with important cellular signal cascades including NFκB, MAPK and PI3K/Akt they can attenuate deleterious processes in inflammation and atherogenesis. Mediation of these signal cascades as well as regulation of other mechanisms like nuclear micro-RNA expression and the ubiquitin-proteosome pathway allows these compounds to decrease aberrant cell cycle progression and inhibit abnormal anti-apoptotic cell survival mechanisms resulting in antagonism of oncogenic and tumorigenic processes. Other possible applications include management of diabetes through PPAR agonism and anti-microbial capabilities. These remarkable properties present promising potential in critical areas of human disease and highlight the value of further investigation into the therapeutic applications of pomegranate compounds and other phytochemicals.