Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) Seed Oil Containing Conjugated Linolenic Acid

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the potential health benefits of pomegranate seed oil, focusing on punicic acid. Pomegranate seeds are rich in oil and more than 95% of the oil is triglyceride. Punicic acid is believed to exert several physiological functions as an active biological component. Punicic acid in pomegranate seeds has exerted an anticarcinogenic effect in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The anticarcinogenic effect of punicic acid can be attributed to punicic acid and/or the metabolite conjugated linoleic acid. Although the mechanism underlying the effect is not clear, induction of apoptosis, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), modulation of cytokines, and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation could be involved. Pomegranate seed oil has been suggested to lower visceral adipose tissue weight in rodents. The effect was associated with an increase in hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation. Dietary pomegranate seed oil may also affect immune function. It has also been demonstrated to ameliorate obesity-related inflammation and insulin resistance by activating PPARγ. Although evidence of these effects in humans is lacking, the results observed in vitro and in vivo suggest potential health benefits. Pomegranate seed oil may therefore be useful, and its effects as one of the new types of functional oils will be considerable.