Ellagic acid is a chemical found in several plant foods, including berries and nuts. These chemicals are formed in the plants as a means of self-protection, as explained in a report from Florida State University. Some of the functions of ellagic acid in plants are regulating growth and seed germination, as well as protecting the plant from infections and heavy chemicals. Available in fresh fruits, nuts, or as a dietary supplement, the protective effects of ellagic acid are of benefit to humans, as well.
Anti-cancer Benefits
Ellagic acid has been found in scientific studies to have anticancer properties. Researchers at the University of Louisville in Kentucky tested diets rich in ellagic acid and berries against breast cancer tumors. The results, published in the May 25, 2010 issue of Cancer Prevention Research, show that ellagic acid interfered with estrogen metabolism and suppressed the development, growth and size of mammary tumors. The American Cancer Society acknowledges that ellagic acid has been the focus of successful studies that show it has anti-cancer benefits, but they point out that most of these studies have been done on animals or in cell cultures, and that further testing on humans needs to be performed before any a final determination on ellagic acid's affect on cancer can be made.
Skin Benefits
If you want to look young as long as you can, adding rich sources of ellagic acid to your diet may help you do just that. It is well-known that one of the major causes of aging skin and wrinkles is sun exposure. To determine the effects of ellagic acid on skin damage, researchers at Hallym University in Korea tested it on human skin cells and hairless mice that had been exposed to UV radiation. The results, published in the January 2010 issue of Experimental Dermatology, show that ellagic acid prevented the breakdown of collagen, which is the basis of healthy skin, and it prevented skin wrinkling and thickening. When applied topically to the hairless mice exposed to UV radiation, ellagic acid also prevented collagen breakdown and decreased inflammation in the skin. Adding berries and pomegranates to your diet can increase your ellagic acid intake, and you can also benefit from topical applications by using berries or pomegranates in homemade beauty products.
Liver Protective Benefits
The primary cells in the liver that are responsible for performing important functions are called hepatocytes. In fact, 80 percent of the liver is made up of hepatocyte cells, according to a report from Colorado State University. Scientists at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology examined the effects of ellagic acid on hepatocytes. The liver cells were purposely exposed to oxidative stress, or free radicals, but the results, published in the April 2010 issue of Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, found that treatment with ellagic acid protected the hepatocytes from damage by preventing cell damage and cell death. There are many types of oxidative stress that can cause free radical damage to the liver, including pollutants, environmental toxins and physical and mental stress. Increasing ellagic acid intake can help to prevent liver damage caused by everyday stresses.
References
- Florida State University: Ellagic Acid
- PubMed: Cancer Prevention Research: Berries and Ellagic Acid Prevent Estrogen-Induced Mammary Tumorigenesis
- American Cancer Society: Ellagic Acid
- PubMed: Experimental Dermatology: Dietary compound ellagic acid alleviates skin wrinkle and inflammation
- Colorado State University: Hepatic Histology: Hepatocytes
