Pomegranate seed oil has an inhibitory effect on skin and breast cancers

There are many benefits that can be enjoyed from pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit and its seed oil. An Iranian review article published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine found that one of the most promising uses of pomegranate seed oil is as an inhibitor of breast and skin cancers.

• Pomegranate, which is a deciduous shrub native to Iran, is commonly used in traditional medicine.
• Its fruit is known for having potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities, which are attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. The primary component of pomegranate that contributes to these properties is ellagic acid.
• Pomegranate seed oil also has medicinal properties such as inhibiting skin and breast cancer, which are two of the most common forms of cancer.
• The inhibitory property of pomegranate seed oil is attributed to the presence of conjugated fatty acids, namely punic acid and octadecatrienoic acid.
• Punic acid inhibits prostaglandin production and fat peroxidation, which can stimulate the development of cancer cells. Moreover, it also prevents active estrogen biosynthesis that can encourage the growth of breast cancer cells.
• Other ways through which pomegranate seed oil inhibits breast and skin cancer is by preventing cancer cells from invading other parts of the body and targeting them for cell death.

Overall, this review shows that pomegranate seed oil contains bioactive compounds that contribute to its ability to inhibit the development of breast and skin cancer.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

For more articles about natural remedies for cancer, visit Cancer.news.

Journal Reference:

Shaygannia E, Bahmani M, Zamanzad B, Rafieian-Kopaei M. A REVIEW STUDY ON PUNICA GRANATUM L. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 30 July 2015;21(3):221–227. DOI: 10.1177/2156587215598039