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 rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's disease as well. He and his fellow researchers will continue working on further research into the capacities and dosages of the chemical; they are also working with a chemist to produce compound derivatives that can be made into medication that is taken orally.

There are at least 44.4 million people with dementia around the world, and there is currently no cure for the devastating condition. Over 50 million adults in the U.S. alone suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, for which there is also no cure, and medications to slow progression aren't effective for everyone. If unsuccessfully treated, the disease can result in disability and physical deformities. Over 6 million people in the world are thought to suffer from Parkinson's disease. The condition can be severely disabling; though medications exist to treat it, their effectiveness tends to wane over time and they come with serious risks and side effects.

The potential for a safe and natural inflammation management method is, then, highly important for people with these conditions. Dr. Olajide recommends that people drink 100% pure pomegranate juice to reap the benefits of punicalagin, although the exact amount needed is unknown.

Still, patients may find they have nothing to lose by drinking the tart, purple beverage every day, though it is, as far as beverages go, on the expensive side. If an oral medication is produced in a lab and eventually covered by insurance, patients may find it easier to access.