Ellagic Acid
Many red fruits, mostly berries, and some nuts contain ellagic acid. Plants produce this phytonutrient to protect themselves from pests and microbes, and it has a wealth of health benefits in the human diet when we eat those plants. Ellagic acid acts as an anti-oxidant, antiviral, anti-mutagen and anti-cancer agent. It is an antibacterial and has been shown to protect the liver from some toxic substances.
Ellagic acid is made up of four phenolic rings fused together, with various hydroxl groups and oxygen atoms sticking off the outer edges. It is usually bound to a sugar molecule in plants, and in this form is known as ellagitannin. Ellagitannin is easier to absorb in a human diet than pure ellagic acid, making the case for trying to get this phytonutrient through the foods you eat rather than a pill. Red raspberries are the best source of ellagic acid, but they can also be found in strawberries, blackberries, cranberries, pomegranates, walnuts, and pecans. Ellagic acid can withstand heating, freezing and concentrating, so you can enjoy these foods as juices, jellies, sorbets or pies and still reap the health benefits.
A study published in 1998 in Cancer Letters studied effects of ellagic acid in cervical carcinoma. This nine year study of 500 cervical cancer patients was done at the Hollings Cancer Center at University of South Carolina. They found that ellagic acid inhibited overall cell growth after only 48 hours of treatment, and and induced apoptosis (the cell death signal) after 72 hours of treatment. The amount of ellagic acid given daily to achieve these results was equivalent to eating only 1 cup of raspberries. In the lab, researchers have also shown that ellagic acid has a similar effect on cancers of the breast, pancreas, esophagus, skin, colon, and leukemia and prostate cancer cells.
Ellagic acid also activates detoxifying enzymes in the liver, and is a powerful antioxidant to neutralize free radicals that can damage cells. Research in Europe suggests that this phytonutrient can also reduce the incidence of birth defects, promote wound healing, and limit chemically induced liver fibrosis. A recent Korean study was presented at the April, 2009 Experimental Biology meeting in New Orleans. It concluded that ellagic acid works to prevent wrinkle formation and photo-aging caused by UV destruction of collagen and inflammatory response. Read more about this study.
Ellagic acid has been known to interfere with the activity of some enzymes in the liver which can clear medications from your system, specifically the cytochrome P450 enzymes, so it is best to check with your doctor before using it if you are on any meds. You may end up with higher than normal levels of these medications in your blood. Taking preparations made with raspberry leaves can initiate labor so should not be used by pregnant women.
The information on this page is not meant to be used in treatment of medical conditions. Please seek the advice of a physician about any medical condition or symptom. Those with medical conditions should consult a medical professional about the appropriateness of taking dietary supplements or diet therapy, and how these methods will interact with their medications.