Punicic acid: A potential compound of pomegranate seed oil in Type 2 diabetes mellitus management

J Cell Physiol. 2019 Mar;234(3):2112-2120. doi: 10.1002/jcp.27556. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the most common form of the disease, has become a serious threat to public health and is a growing burden on global economies. Due to the unexpected adverse effects of antidiabetic medicines, the use of nutraceuticals as a complementary therapy has drawn extensive attention by investigators. In this issue, a novel nutraceutical, Punicic acid (PA)-the main ingredient of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) that has potential therapeutic effects in T2DM-has been investigated. PA is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, and unlike synthetic ligands, such as thiazolidinediones, it has no side effects. PA exerts antidiabetic effects via various mechanisms, such as reducing inflammatory cytokines, modulating glucose homeostasis, and antioxidant properties. In this review, we discussed the potential therapeutic effects of PSO and PA and represented the related mechanisms involved in the management of T2DM.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus (DM); inflammatory cytokines; nutraceuticals; punicic acid (PA); thiazolidinediones (TZDs).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Humans
  • Linolenic Acids / chemistry
  • Linolenic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Oils / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / therapeutic use*
  • Pomegranate / chemistry*
  • Seeds / chemistry

Substances

  • Linolenic Acids
  • Plant Oils
  • punicic acid