New research is confirming why pomegranates may be the life-givers they have been honored as in the past. One of the important groups of compounds in pomegranate is ellagitannins, of which punicalagin is the main one. Punicalagin is able to break down into bioavailable ellagic acid within the body; the latter does not exist naturally in a free form. Ellagitannins form complexes unique to their source and also provide health benefits.
A new proprietary blend of pomegranate ellagitannins, gallotannins and anthocyanins, is now available on the market for use in dietary supplements and functional foods. According to Geni Herbs (Noblesville, Ind.), the makers of PomElla[r], it is useful for a number of health benefits, including helping to regulate the inflammatory response, promoting healthy vascular function, providing potent antioxidant activity and maintaining optimal cardiovascular health. This proprietary blend--called PomElla--was shown to inhibit LDL cholesterol oxidation in vitro, more evidence that it promotes optimal cardiovascular function. Company officials claim PomElla is the only pomegranate product available that is standardized to punicalagin content, and has been proven to inhibit LDL oxidation in vitro better than either vitamin E or pure ellagic acid.