Pomegranate, red grape juice enhances biological actions of nitric oxide

Therapeutic Efforts Supplements & Lifestyle
#1

Pomegranate juice protects nitric oxide against oxidative destruction and enhances the biological actions of nitric oxide

sciencedirect.com/science?_o … 8bc480523e

Abstract

Pomegranate juice (PJ), which is a rich source of potent flavonoid antioxidants, was tested for its capacity to protect nitric oxide (NO) against oxidative destruction and enhance the biological actions of NO.

Employing chemiluminescence headspace analysis, PJ was found to be a potent inhibitor of superoxide anion-mediated disappearance of NO. PJ was much more potent than Concord grape juice, blueberry juice, red wine, ascorbic acid, and dl-α-tocopherol.

As little as 3 μl of a 6-fold dilution of PJ, in a reaction volume of 5000 μl, produced a marked antioxidant effect, whereas 300 μl of undiluted blueberry juice or nearly 1000 μl of undiluted Concord grape juice were required to produce similar effects.

PJ and other antioxidant-containing products were found to augment the anti-proliferative action of NO (DETA/NO) on vascular smooth muscle cell (rat aorta) proliferation. PJ was much more effective than the other products tested and elicited no effects when tested alone in the absence of added NO.

Similarly, neither PJ nor the other products enhanced the anti-proliferative action of α-difluoromethylornithine, a stable substance that inhibits cell growth by NO-independent mechanisms.

In order to determine whether PJ is capable of increasing the production of NO by vascular endothelial cells, PJ was tested for its capacity to upregulate and/or activate endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

PJ elicited no effects on eNOS protein expression or catalytic activity. Moreover, PJ did not enhance promoter activity in the eNOS gene (COS-7 cells transfected with eNOS).

These observations indicate that PJ possesses potent antioxidant activity that results in marked protection of NO against oxidative destruction, thereby resulting in augmentation of the biological actions of NO.

#2

Select Flavonoids and Whole Juice From Purple Grapes Inhibit Platelet Function and Enhance Nitric Oxide Release

FULL TEXT: circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content … 03/23/2792

Background—Moderate red wine consumption is inversely associated with coronary ischemia, and both red wine and purple grape juice (PGJ) contain flavonoids with antioxidant and antiplatelet properties believed to be protective against cardiovascular events. Acute cardiac events are also associated with decreased platelet-derived nitric oxide (NO) release. In this study, the effects of PGJ and PGJ-derived flavonoids on platelet function and platelet NO production were determined.

Methods and Results—Incubation of platelets with dilute PGJ led to inhibition of aggregation, enhanced release of platelet-derived NO, and decreased superoxide production. To confirm the in vivo relevance of these findings, 20 healthy subjects consumed 7 mL · kg-1 · d-1 of PGJ for 14 days. Platelet aggregation was inhibited after PGJ supplementation, platelet-derived NO production increased from 3.5±1.2 to 6.0±1.5 pmol/108 platelets, and superoxide release decreased from 29.5±5.0 to 19.2±3.1 arbitrary units (P<0.007 and P<0.05, respectively). -Tocopherol levels increased significantly after PGJ consumption (from 15.6±0.7 to 17.6±0.9 µmol/L; P<0.009), and the plasma protein–independent antioxidant activity increased by 50.0% (P<0.05). Last, incubation of platelets with select flavonoid fractions isolated from PGJ consistently attenuated superoxide levels but had variable effects on whole-blood aggregation, platelet aggregation, and NO release.

Conclusions—Both in vitro incubation and oral supplementation with PGJ decrease platelet aggregation, increase platelet-derived NO release, and decrease superoxide production. These findings may be a result of antioxidant-sparing and/or direct effects of select flavonoids found in PGJ. The suppression of platelet-mediated thrombosis represents a potential mechanism for the beneficial effects of purple grape products, independent of alcohol consumption, in cardiovascular disease.

#3

Another article stating that pomegranate juice may aid with ED:

nutraingredients.com/Researc … ysfunction

#4

It appears that pomegranate juice can also lower estrogen via the fact that it contains anti-aromatase chemicals:

news-medical.net/news/201001 … ancer.aspx

I have also been trying to research other supplements that could either upregulate androgen receptor function, or reduce estrogen. I was supprised when I found that resveratrol, which has some known anti-aromatase and anti-estrogen properties, also has a down side in which it down regulates Androgen Receptors in the prostate. I know there are some people on this site that are using some supplements that use resveratrol so thought I’d mention it. Here is the link and a quote:

ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110006531879/en

#5

so has anyone had any type of success by incorporating pomegranate to their diet? I try to drink one of those pom drinks like twice a week but not making any type of difference.

#6

I will buy one and see what happens. Keep you up to date.
However, I have been disappointed by so many supps that I do not have much hope left.
I am just exhausted by the whole problem. In all the years I have not had any improvement.

#7

Keepup, you have been suffering for 8 years, and you expect pomegranate to cure you? come on man…

The best thing to do is just put these ‘health foods’ into your normal diet whenever possible and to not expect any miracles. The same with most supplements - buy your staple things which have research behind them like fish oil, green tea, probiotics etc and maybe buy other stuff that you believe could be beneficial once in a while; if it makes you feel good, consider sticking with it.

#8

I do not think that pomgranate will heal me (just as all the other supps haven’t healed me)! I will just drink it regularly. Maybe it helps a bit. Why not give it a try!

#9

I am basically researching every herb that is supposed to help with sexual function and pleasure to see a) whether they accomplish this target and b) whether they might have adverse effects to our condition. I read about the effects of pomegranate. There is something else that I found:

I’m still not really understanding all the science of our condition, but this sounds bad to me.

#10

Would these benefits come from dry pomegranate supps. (such as pills) or only the juice would do it? It’s not very clear to me… Thanks.