Pomegranate Extract Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Effect

COLUMBIA, South Carolina—Researchers at the School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, found pomegranate fruit extract (POMx) or POMx-derived compounds may be of therapeutic use for the treatment of inflammatory diseases by suppressing mast cells/basophils activation (J Inflamm (Lond). 2009;6:1). KU812 cells were stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium inophore A23187 (PMACI). The inhibitory effect of POMx on pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and production by stimulated KU812 cells was measured.

POMx significantly decreased PMACI stimulated inflammatory gene expression and production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in KU812 cells. The inhibitory effect of POMx on the pro-inflammatory cytokines was mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) subgroups c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)- and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) dependent. In addition, POMx suppressed the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation induced by PMACI by inhibiting IkappaB-degradation in human basophil cells. POMx also suppressed the powerful induction of NF-kappaB promoter-mediated luciferase activity in transiently transfected KU812 cells.