# They Found a Component for Heart Protection in Pomegranates

The compound punicalagin, found in pomegranates, is capable of suppressing the formation of substances associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. This conclusion was reached by researchers from the Quadram Institute of Nutrition and Health (United Kingdom).

As reported by BAKU.WS, the results of the scientific work were published in the journal Food & Function.

Punicalagin belongs to the polyphenol group and is present not only in pomegranate juice and fruit peel, but also in a number of other plants, including roses. This substance has pronounced antioxidant properties and helps protect cells from toxins and oxidative stress.

During an experiment on a laboratory model of the human intestine, scientists established that it is punicalagin that almost completely stops the formation of trimethylamine (TMA) from L-carnitine. This process is of fundamental importance, since in the body TMA is further converted into a compound previously associated with the development of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and increased mortality risk.

The researchers also tested other components of pomegranate extract - various polyphenols, their breakdown products, and auxiliary substances. However, a noticeable inhibitory effect on the microbial conversion of L-carnitine to TMA was identified exclusively in punicalagin. The pomegranate extract itself also completely suppressed this process, probably due to the reduction of acidity in the environment, which is unfavorable for intestinal bacteria involved in TMA synthesis.

The authors of the work emphasize that the obtained data are based on an experimental model and do not yet confirm a similar effect in humans. Nevertheless, the results point to punicalagin as a promising natural compound that in the future may be used in preventive nutrition and dietary strategies to reduce the risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.