Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Punica granatum L. Polyphenols in Neurological Conditions

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a polyphenol-rich food and medicinal plant containing flavonols, anthocyanins, and tannins. Ellagitannins (ETs) are the most abundant polyphenols in pomegranate. A growing body of research shows that polyphenol-rich pomegranate extracts and their metabolites target multiple types of brain cell and support their redox balance, proliferation and survival, as well as cell signaling. Independent studies have demonstrated that the significant neuroprotective effects of ETs are mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, their chelating properties, by their ability to activate various signaling pathways, as well as the ability to influence mitochondrial damage, thus regulating autophagy, apoptosis and neurotransmitter signaling. The multitude of in vitro and in vivo studies summarized in the present review suggest that pomegranate polyphenols act on both neuronal and glial cells directly, and also affect blood-brain barrier function, restoring redox balance in the blood and brain and increasing blood flow to the brain.

Automated summary

Pomegranate is a polyphenol-rich food and medicinal plant that contains various beneficial compounds. Studies have shown that these compounds can target brain cells and support their functions by regulating redox balance, proliferation, and survival. The neuroprotective effects of pomegranate are mediated by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, ability to activate signaling pathways, and regulation of mitochondrial damage. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that pomegranate polyphenols can directly affect neuronal and glial cells, as well as influence blood-brain barrier function and increase blood flow to the brain.