arthritis

Suffering from arthritis? Eat pomegranate

Attached Image: monthly_12_2009/post-55-1260436674.jpg

Researchers from the department of medicine of the Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio, suggest that oral consumption of pomegranate extract may help to reduce inflammation in the body. The study led by Tariq Haqqi showed that blood samples collected from rabbits that were fed pomegranate extract inhibited inflammation to some extent. Researchers are hoping that pomegranate extract may provide humans too with great relief from chronic inflammatory conditions. Pomegranate extract is already used by many people as a treatment in alternative medicine for inflammatory conditions that arise in those suffering from arthritis.
Although pomegranate extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in experiments on isolated tissues, it is not known whether ingestion of it can produce the same anti-inflammatory effects in living systems.

Attached Image: monthly_12_2009/post-55-1260436663.jpg

The rabbits used in the study were orally given pomegranate extract that was equivalent of almost 175 mls of pomegranate juice.
The team then measured the levels of antioxidants in the rabbits’ blood samples and compared them to the ones collected before the ingestion of the pomegranate extract. The plasma collected from rabbits showed a significantly higher levels of antioxidants than samples collected before the ingestion of pomegranate extract.
The extract also significantly reduced the activity of proteins that cause inflammation, specifically cyclo-oxygenase-2, along with reduction in production of pro-inflammatory compounds produced by cells isolated from cartilage. Elaborating on the findings of the study, Haqqi said, “The use of dietary nutrients or drugs based on them as an adjunct in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions may benefit patients. The current treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs can have some serious side effects following a long-term use. Further research is needed, however, especially on the absorption of the orally ingested substances into the blood,” he added.
ANI