3. Pomegranate may help to slow degradation of cartilage in osteoarthritis
Current osteoarthritis treatments provide limited efficacy and do little to slow disease progression and joint destruction. Pomegranate has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that can be a potentially beneficial therapy for treating a variety of diseases.
According to a study, pomegranate extract can block the enzymes that contribute to osteoarthritis. The study examined the efficacy of pomegranate extract against the pro-inflammatory protein molecule Interleukin-1b (IL-1b), which plays a significant part in osteoarthritis cartilage degradation.1✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
PMID: 16140882
The IL-1b protein molecules overproduce other inflammatory molecules which include matrix metalloproteases (MMP), tightly regulated enzymes needed for the remodeling of tissue. MMP degrades the cartilage when overproduced which results in the destruction and damage of joints.
The study results suggest that pomegranate inhibits the overproduction of MMP enzymes in cartilage cells.
