Chemical in Pomegranate May Treat Dementia, Rheumatoid Arthritis
By generating the pomegranate fruit , nature may have done more for us than provide a fruit with distinctive color and flavor. New research shows the fruit to bear potential in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease as well as other conditions for which inflammation is a factor, including Parkinson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Pomegranate contains a chemical compound called punicalagin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers recently studied the impact of this chemical on brain cell inflammation, which is linked to the progression of dementia. While more research is needed to show what amounts of the chemical are effective in combating inflammation, the study found it to significantly decrease inflammatory markers. Lead researcher, Dr. Olumayokun Olajide , claims that we have reason to believe punicalagin will be effective not only in treating neuroinflammation - the kind associated with dementia - but the kinds associated with diseases such as rheum