Ellagic acid is a fairly rare substance. It is part of some types of fruits, berries and nuts. This compound is able to rejuvenate the body, it also has anti-cancer properties. Where is this substance contained? And is it really useful? We will consider these issues in the article.
What it is
From a chemistry point of view, ellagic acid is a phenolic compound. It acts as an antioxidant. So in medicine they call substances that slow down the oxidation reaction in the body. This prevents the accumulation of harmful substances (free radicals).
For which system is ellagic acid important? This compound protects body cells from carcinogens. In addition, an antioxidant is necessary for the proper functioning of the immune system, heart and blood vessels.
Benefit
Consider the beneficial properties of ellagic acid. As already mentioned, this substance is able to prevent cancer. It also slows the spread of cancerous tumors. How does this happen?
Normally, body cells live about 120 days. Then they die. In their place, new young cells form. This process is called apoptosis. Such a life cycle is characteristic of healthy cells.
However, cancer cells do not undergo apoptosis and do not die. Ellagic acid allows you to start the process of their death. Moreover, it acts selectively only on the tumor, without affecting healthy tissue sites.
Medical studies have proven the following anti-cancer effect of this antioxidant:
- Within two days, this substance stops the growth of tumor cells.
- Acid causes the natural death of cancer cells (apoptosis) within 3 days. Such an effect was noted in cancer of the breast, prostate, skin and gastrointestinal tract.
- The antioxidant prevents the destruction of the p53 gene, which protects cells from cancerous degeneration.
- Ellagic acid fights oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
In addition, this substance has the following therapeutic effects:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antibacterial and antiviral;
- antihypertensive;
- vasodilator;
- hepatoprotective.
Acid prevents aging of skin cells. It blocks the formation of enzymes that destroy collagen fibers. This prevents wrinkles. Also, ellagic acid protects the epidermis from ultraviolet radiation. It is part of cosmetics for the prevention of skin aging, sunscreens and whitening creams.
Where is contained
This useful substance is a part of only some berries, fruits and nuts. Ellagic acid is found in the following products:
- raspberries;
- Blackberry
- cloudberries;
- Strawberries
- cranberries;
- grenades;
- guava;
- walnuts;
- pecans;
- liver fungus.
Consider these types of food in more detail.
Berries and fruits
The greatest amount of this acid is found in raspberries and blackberries. It reaches a concentration of about 300 mg per 100 g of product. The fruits of these plants are drupes. Berries are composed of the smallest seeds. It is in them that 90% of this useful substance is located. Therefore, for the prevention of cancer, you need to eat fresh fruits. If you consume 150 g of raspberry or blackberry berries per day, this will serve as a good tool for the prevention of cancer and papillomatosis.
This acid is also found in cloudberries. This northern berry belongs to the same genus of plants as raspberries. The content of the substance in its fruits ranges from 50 to 300 mg per 100 g. It depends on the maturity and growing conditions of the berry.
In much smaller quantities, this beneficial compound is found in strawberries and cranberries. The use of these berries is indicated for infections of the genitourinary tract, as well as for the prevention of cancer of the prostate, intestines and mammary glands.
Pomegranate contains a relatively small amount of this substance - about 35 - 75 mg per 100 g. For the prevention of cancer, doctors recommend the use of pomegranate juice. 1 liter of this drink contains a large amount (about 1500-2000 mg) of punicalagin. In the body, this compound is converted to ellagic acid.
Phenolic antioxidants are also found in guava. Their number is approximately the same in white and red fruits. However, this exotic fruit can be found on sale infrequently.
Nuts
Walnuts contain about the same amount of acid as strawberries. In addition, they include healthy omega-3 fats. This enhances the anti-aging effect and helps strengthen blood vessels. 8 fruits contain about 800 mg of antioxidant.
Pecans belong to the same plant genus as walnuts. However, the acid content in them is much lower - from 20 to 80 mg per 1 g.
Liver fungus
This product is quite rare. Hepatic mushroom (or liverwort ordinary) is a growth on the bark of oaks and chestnuts. It is used in vegetarian cuisine as a substitute for meat food.
Liver fungus is rich not only in antioxidants, but also in vitamin C. It has hepatoprotective and anticarcinogenic properties.
Preparations
Ellagic acid in foods is quite rare and in small doses. To achieve a tangible therapeutic effect, you need to eat about a basket of raspberries or blackberries. Therefore, today the pharmaceutical industry produces drugs and dietary supplements with this substance. Based on the acid, the following bioadditives were created:
- Maxiliv.
- Ellagoton.
- "Pomegranate Extract" (in tablets).
Indications for the use of these drugs are the following diseases and conditions:
- malignant tumors of the prostate, cervix, breast, skin, gastrointestinal tract;
- arterial hypertension;
- fibrotic changes in the lungs and liver;
- side effects from chemotherapy;
- excessive skin pigmentation due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
It is important to remember that these drugs cannot be used as monotherapy for cancerous tumors. Supplements can only be used as an addition to the main treatment.
Reviews
Patients note the anti-aging effect of acid-based dietary supplements. After the course of treatment, they returned to their previous vigor and activity, people became less sick. This is due to the powerful antioxidant effect of the substance.
Positive feedback is also left by patients with liver diseases. Dietary supplements helped them stop the development of fibrotic changes and improve their well-being.
There are few reviews from cancer patients. This tool is used in the treatment of cancer relatively recently. However, patients undergoing chemotherapy believe that acid supplements helped them recover faster after taking cytostatics. Nausea, dizziness, and weakness disappeared in patients.
You can find positive reviews about the use of dried pomegranate septa in breast cancer. After a course of treatment, the number of tumor cells decreased in patients and the tumor markers returned to normal. However, in these cases, pomegranate partitions were used in conjunction with traditional medicines, other herbal remedies for cancer, and a special diet. Only such an integrated approach provides a tangible therapeutic effect.