Elagic Acid

Ellagic acid, the active ingredient in pomegranate, has a well-established reputation among the scientific community as a highly promising anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, and anti-atherogenic agent. There has never been any shortage of reasons to justify this line of research; in addition to its capabilities as an antioxidant and a chelator of heavy metals, ellagic acid also modulates enzymes, limits prostaglandin biosynthesis, and induces glutathione.

A new study from Brazil has revealed yet another biological activity within ellagic acid’s already impressive range of capabilities, namely as an anti-inflammatory. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo tested the extract of the Lafoensia pacari, a plant native to Brazil that is high in ellagic acid and is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation. The study used laboratory mice injected intraperitoneally with a substance designed to induce conditions of acute inflammation. The scientists proceeded to treat the animals with Lafoensia pacari and measure their levels of paw oedema (swelling), acetic acid writhing and inflammation-induced fever in order to evaluate the effects of the L. pacari extract. An accurate measurement of these conditions allowed for the respective levels of swelling, pain and inflammation to be assessed after the animals were administered with the Lafoensia pacari extract. Ellagic acid is present in Lafoensia pacari extract, and the Brazilian scientists were able to isolate its effects. They determined that the ellagic acid content within the extract was indeed responsible for producing anti-inflammatory, anti-oedematous and analgesic effects.

The authors of this study concluded that ellagic acid provides ‘new prospects for the development of drugs to treat pain, oedema and inflammation.’ However, for those scientists who are already in the process of studying ellagic acid for its anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagen, and anti-atherogenic applications, this study can only reinforce their theories about its potential.