Encapsulation of ellagic acid from pomegranate peels in microalgae optimized by response surface methodology and an investigation of its controlled released under simulated gastrointestinal studies

Promising remedies for cardiovascular disease: Natural polyphenol ellagic acid and its metabolite urolithins

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant worldwide factor contributing to human fatality and morbidity. With the increase of incidence rates, it is of concern that there is a lack of current therapeutic alternatives because of multiple side effects. Ellagic acid (EA), the natural polyphenol (C₁₄H₆O₈), is abundant in pomegranates, berries, and nuts. EA and its intestinal microflora metabolite, urolithins, have recently attracted much attention as a potential novel "medicine" because of their wide pharmacological properties.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to critically analyze available literature to summarize the beneficial effects of EA and urolithins, and highlights their druggability and therapeutic potential in various CVDs.

METHODS

We systematically studied research and review articles between 1984 and 2022 available on various databases to obtain the data on EA and urolithins with no language restriction. Their cardiovascular protective activities, underlying mechanism, and druggability were highlighted and discussed comprehensively.

RESULTS

We found that EA and urolithins may exert preventive and curative effects on CVD with negligible side effects and possibly regulate lipid metabolism imbalance, pro-inflammatory factor production, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, endothelial cell dysfunction, and Ca²⁺ intake and release. Potentially, this may lead to the prevention and amelioration of atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, cardiac fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiotoxicities in vivo. Several molecules and signaling pathways are associated with their therapeutic actions, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, NF-κB, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2, sirtuin1, miRNA, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo studies shows that EA and urolithins could be used as valid candidates for early prevention and effective therapeutic strategies for various CVDs.

From Pomegranate Byproducts Waste to Worth: A Review of Extraction Techniques and Potential Applications for Their Revalorization

The food industry is quite interested in the use of (techno)-functional bioactive compounds from byproducts to develop ‘clean label’ foods in a circular economy. The aim of this review is to evaluate the state of the knowledge and scientific evidence on the use of green extraction technologies (ultrasound-, microwave-, and enzymatic-assisted) of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel byproducts, and their potential application via the supplementation/fortification of vegetal matrixes to improve their quality, functional properties, and safety. Most studies are mainly focused on ultrasound extraction, which has been widely developed compared to microwave or enzymatic extractions, which should be studied in depth, including their combinations. After extraction, pomegranate peel byproducts (in the form of powders, liquid extracts, and/or encapsulated, among others) have been incorporated into several food matrixes, as a good tool to preserve ‘clean label’ foods without altering their composition and improving their functional properties. Future studies must clearly evaluate the energy efficiency/consumption, the cost, and the environmental impact leading to the sustainable extraction of the key bio-compounds. Moreover, predictive models are needed to optimize the phytochemical extraction and to help in decision-making along the supply chain.