Pomegranate Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Ref

Adv Biomed Res. 2014 Mar 25;3:100. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.129371

Potent health effects of pomegranate

Aida Zarfeshany 1, Sedigheh Asgary 1,✉, Shaghayegh Haghjoo Javanmard 1

Osteoarthritis

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and its major progressive degenerative joint disease,

 which could affect joint functions and quality of life in patients. It is mediated by proinflammatory 

cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α. MAPKs are important due to their inflammatory and cartilage damage regulation.[38] P38-MAPKs are responsible for regulating cytokine production, neutrophils activation, apoptosis, and nitric oxide synthesis. The MAPK family phosphorylates a number of transcription factors such as runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX-2).[39,40,41]

Pomegranate extract, with its rich source of polyphenols, can inhibit IL-1 β-induced activation of MKK3, DNA-binding activity of RUNX-2 transcription factor, and p38 α-MAPK isoform.[38]

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects 0.5-1% of people worldwide. Women are afflicted more than men. This inflammatory disease is characterized by inflammation and bone erosion.[38,39] Critical mediators in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis are TNF-α, IL-1 β, MCP1, Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and COX-2-agents, which are stimulated by p38-MAPK and NFκB activation.[42,43]

It is shown that pomegranate extract could reduce the onset and incidence of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Severity of arthritis, joint inflammation, and IL-6 level were significantly reduced in pomegranate extract-fed mice.[44]