Pomegranate Seed Oil Nanoemulsion: Health Benefits and Antioxidant Properties

Jim Crocker
14th August, 2024

Pomegranate Seed Oil Nanoemulsion: Health Benefits and Antioxidant Properties

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by An-Najah National University explored the compounds in pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and its self-nanoemulsifying system
  • The self-nanoemulsifying system showed strong antioxidant activity, better than a standard antioxidant
  • The system significantly improved PSO's anti-diabetic activity, making it comparable to a standard anti-diabetic drug
  • The system also demonstrated potent anti-lipase activity, similar to a standard lipase inhibitor, which is important for obesity management
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is renowned for its diverse therapeutic applications. A recent study conducted by An-Najah National University aimed to explore the phytochemical compounds in pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and its self-nanoemulsifying system, and to evaluate their antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-lipase activities[1]. The study began by extracting PSO and preparing a self-nanoemulsifying system. The phytochemical analysis using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) identified punicic acid, β-eleosteric acid, catalpic acid, α-eleosteric acid, and oleic acid as the predominant compounds. Trace amounts of linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and α-linolenic acid were also detected. The self-nanoemulsifying system was formulated with surfactant (Tween 80), co-surfactant (Span 80), and PSO, resulting in a droplet size of 189.44 ± 2.1 nm and a Polydispersity Index (PDI) of 0.229 ± 0.09. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The self-nanoemulsifying system demonstrated potent antioxidant activity compared to Trolox, a standard antioxidant. This finding aligns with previous research highlighting the high antioxidant capacity of PSO due to its rich composition of conjugated fatty acids, particularly punicic acid[2]. The anti-diabetic activity was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of α-amylase, an enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion. PSO exhibited a weak inhibition with an IC50 value of 354.81 ± 2.3 µg/ml. However, the self-nanoemulsifying system showed significantly enhanced activity, comparable to acarbose, a standard anti-diabetic drug. This suggests that the nanoemulsifying system improves the bioavailability and efficacy of PSO. The anti-lipase activity, which is crucial for obesity management, was also investigated. Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats in the digestive system. The self-nanoemulsifying system displayed potent inhibition with an IC50 value of 43.65 ± 1.9 µg/ml, compared to orlistat, a standard lipase inhibitor. This finding supports earlier studies indicating that PSO can modulate obesity-related metabolism by reducing lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissues[2]. The study's findings suggest that the self-nanoemulsifying system enhances the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PSO. This system acts as a drug reservoir, facilitating efficient release and improving the therapeutic potential of PSO. The enhanced antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-lipase activities indicate that such formulations could be developed into oral medications for managing oxidative stress, diabetes, and obesity. These results are particularly significant given the historical challenges associated with natural product-based drug discovery, such as technical barriers to screening, isolation, and optimization[3]. The use of advanced formulation techniques like self-nanoemulsifying systems addresses these challenges, revitalizing interest in natural products for pharmaceutical applications. Additionally, the study builds on previous research that demonstrated the potential of PSO as a transdermal enhancer, significantly improving the percutaneous absorption of compounds like resveratrol[4]. This highlights the versatility of PSO in various drug delivery systems, further expanding its therapeutic applications. In conclusion, the study by An-Najah National University underscores the potential of pomegranate seed oil and its self-nanoemulsifying system in developing effective treatments for oxidative stress, diabetes, and obesity. The use of advanced formulation techniques enhances the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of natural products, paving the way for innovative pharmaceutical applications.

MedicineHealthBiochem

References

Main Study

1) Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities, formulation, and characterization of a self-nanoemulsion system loaded with pomegranate (Punica granatum) seed oil.

Published 14th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68476-7

Related Studies

2) Pomegranate Oil's Potential as an Anti-Obesity Ingredient.

https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154958

3) Natural products in drug discovery: advances and opportunities.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-020-00114-z

4) Pomegranate Seed Oil Enhances the Percutaneous Absorption of trans-Resveratrol.

https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess17144


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