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Pomegranate fruit extracts could slow down the deterioration of cartilage associated with osteoarthritis, shows a new study.

According to the National Institutes of Health, osteoarthritis affects more than 20 million Americans. The cartilage in the patients breaks down and causes extreme pain. Current treatments, which offer little effectiveness and do little to slow down the disease and joint destruction, have sparked an interest in developing alternative methods to treating the disease.

"Arthritis is one of the foremost diseases for which patients seek herbal or traditional medicine treatments," says Tariq M. Haqqi, PH.D., professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. "However, all the extracts and herbs have not yet been scientifically evaluated for their efficacy and safety. Indeed, some of them may even interfere with the current treatments. Therefore, careful use of supplements and herbal medicines during early stages of disease or treatment may be made to limit the disease progression."

Researchers wanted to determine the ability of pomegranate to attack the inflammatory protein molecule -- Interleukin-1b (1L-1b) -- that plays a role in cartilage degradation. In order to do this, they added water extract of pomegranate fruit to human cartilage samples.

Researchers found pomegranate slowed down the deterioration of human cartilage. The fruit works by inhibiting the enzymes that degrade the cartilage and result in joint damage and destruction.

"This suggests that consumption of pomegranate fruit extract may help in protecting cartilage from effects of 1L-1b by suppressing cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis," Haqqi concludes.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/

SOURCE: Journal of Nutrition

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