What is Ellagic Acid good for?

Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring polyphenol compound whose core structure is composed of two hexagonal lactone rings (furan rings) coupled through carbon-carbon bonds. On each lactone ring, a phenol ring is connected, and this unique fused ring structure imparts its special chemical properties and biological activity.

Ellagic acid is mainly derived from plants, and can exist in free states, and more commonly, plants rich in ellagic tannins (pomegranate peel, berries, nuts, etc.). Elagic tannins are complex polyphenol polymers that can be used to release ellagic acid under acidic conditions, enzymatic lysis or intestinal microorganisms. Therefore, ellagic acid is specifically a hydrolysate of ellagic tannins.

The ellagic acid appearance is light yellow to beige crystalline powder. Slightly soluble in water, easily soluble in alkali (forming salt), pyridine and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and at the same time, the solubility in organic solvents is limited. The melting point reaches 360°C and is easy to decompose.

Pomegranate peel is one of the most abundant sources of ellagic tannins known in nature. Its ellagic tannin content can be as high as 20-25% or more of dry weight. These ellagic tannins are hydrolyzed into ellagic acid by microorganisms in the human intestine. Pomegranate seeds also contain a considerable amount of ellagic tannins. However, although the ellagia tannin content of pomegranate peel is extremely high, it is usually not eaten directly as a food, but is used for extracts or medicinal materials. The ellagic acid extraction of Xi'an Tongze Biotechnology is to use natural pomegranate peels as water solvent, heat reflux extraction, ultrasonic assisted extraction or microwave assisted extraction.

1.Antioxidant

It mainly directly eliminates free radicals, activates the Nrf2 pathway, and upregulates endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD).

Often added to anti-aging products, there are anti-aging creams, essences, and dietary supplement glues or powders. In order to resist skin oxidative damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, reduce wrinkles and stains.

At the same time, preventing chronic diseases - Alzheimer's disease, which mainly inhibits low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, slows atherosclerosis, and protects neurons from oxidative stress, thus has potential effects on preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

2.Fight cancer

By inhibiting the activation of carcinogen metabolic enzymes, p53-dependent apoptosis is induced, thereby blocking the pro-survival pathway. It can also inhibit NF-κB inflammatory signaling and downregulate vascular endothelial growth factor to inhibit angiogenesis.

If you are a long-term smoker or are in a smoke environment for a long time, you can take oral high-purity ellagic acid supplements to help reduce the risk of lung and esophageal cancer. Dosage requirements are best followed by doctor's advice.

We eat foods rich in ellagic acid for a long time - pomegranates, berries, and nuts, which can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. It is very beneficial for mental and physical health.

3.Anti-inflammatory

By inhibiting inflammatory mediator synthetase, proinflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 can be reduced, and inflammatory signaling cascades of NF-κB and MAPK can be blocked.

If you have arthritis and symptoms of enteritis, you can take supplements containing ellagic acid orally, which can relieve the pain caused by chronic inflammation.

For sensitive skin, applying repair lotion or ointment containing ellagic acid can relieve inflammation of sensitive skin or acne and have a repair effect on the skin.

If you have recently swollen and painful gums, you can use mouthwash or toothpaste containing ellagic acid. It inhibits the reproduction of periodontal pathogenic bacteria, relieves pain, and relieves gingivitis.

4.Cardiovascular protection

Improve endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, increase nitric oxide, thereby vasodilating, and inhibit LDL oxidation and reduce platelet P-selectin expression.

If you are a hypertensive patient, you can eat pomegranate or berries for a long time to control your blood pressure. Both pomegranates and berries contain a certain amount of ellagic acid, which can improve vascular endothelial function through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby achieving the effect of lowering blood pressure.

It can prevent myocardial infarction and has an auxiliary effect on stroke. Such patients can take supplements containing ellagic acid, which can inhibit excessive platelet aggregation and thus protect the cardiovascular system.

1. Very low bioavailability

Although the ellagitannin content of pomegranate peel is extremely high, it is usually not eaten directly as a food. It is hydrolyzed by microorganisms in the colon and is further converted into urolithins before it is absorbed. At the same time, the ellagic acid used in oral supplements is mainly in free state. Therefore, prototype ellagic acid is almost impossible to detect in the blood.

2. Instability

Skin care products containing ellagic acid are easily deactivated in transparent packaging, such as essences tend to degrade under light, resulting in discoloration. At the same time, the solution has long-term storage of oxidation resistance and is prone to failure.

Oral supplements will easily precipitate in the stomach, have a high inactivation rate, and require special coating or carrier protection.

1. Preferred food supplements, eat more pomegranates, nuts and berries, which are highly safe and contain synergistic nutrients. For supplements, low doses need to be selected ≤200mg/day, attention should be paid to intestinal health, and supplement probiotics should be supplemented if necessary.

2. For skin care products, high-end brand skin care products that are protected from light, sealed packaging, and stable pH should be selected. Otherwise, spending a lot of money and using it without any effect is equivalent to using an invalid product, which is not worth the loss.

3. Strictly contraindicated for special populations: ellagic acid supplements are prohibited for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and people with abnormal coagulation function.

For patients with chemotherapy, follow the doctor's instructions before use, and the relevant doctor needs to evaluate drug interactions.

1.Title: Ellagic Acid: A Review on Its Natural Sources, Chemical Stability, and Therapeutic Potential
Journal: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2020)

2.Title: Ellagitannins, Ellagic Acid, and Their Metabolites in Cancer Prevention and Therapy
Journal: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2023)

3.Title: Gut Microbiota Metabolism of Pomegranate Ellagitannins: Implications on Human Health
Journal: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (2021)

4.Title: Formulation Strategies to Improve Topical Delivery of Ellagic Acid
Journal: Pharmaceutics (2023)