Ellagic acid – bioactive profile, dietary sources, and oncoprotective and antimicrobial potential in the context of gastrointestinal health
Emilia Szymańska
2026-03-24
3 min. read
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Scientifically documented benefits of consuming fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, and nuts include the presence of ellagic acid—a polyphenol with demonstrated anticancer, antioxidant properties and the capacity to modulate pathogenic bacterial strains, including *Helicobacter pylori*. Learn which food products represent the richest sources of this compound and how its regular intake may contribute to the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases!
Fatty acids and their halogenated derivatives
Elagic acid occurs in both free and ester-bound forms of glucose to form elagotanin, which is broken down in the small intestine into elagic acid and its metabolites are excreted with urine and feces [1].
Ellagic acid properties
Available data indicate that elagoic acid has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and anti-mutagenic effects. It also has a beneficial effect on lipid profile and arterial hypertension. Studies indicate that the electrolytic acid found in legumes (Juglans regia L..) has anti- inflammatory effects, so the consumption of these snacks may be linked to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. In the same studies, it was found that the legumes, which are a source of lipidic acid, have beneficial effects on bone health and prophylaxis [3].. Elagotanin has also been shown to have anti-oxidant properties in relation to Helicobacter pylori, e.g. coli, elapidosis and elapido, as well as anti-antibacterial agents in the treatment of Helicobacteria and Elapidobacteria.
Elagic acid occurrence
Large quantities of elagoic acid are found in berries such as strawberries, rasps, cherries, grapes, legumes, pomegranates and nuts. The white grapes of the Muscadine variety contained 879 1620 mg/kg of ellagic acid in their skins, while the dark ones contained 592 1900 mg/ kg. Fewer quantities were found in the male. In the case of juice, the white fruit fared much better [1, 2]. During the examination of the elaboic acid content of the products, it was observed that it varied according to the part of the product studied from the vegetable.
Elagic acid has anti-cancer properties
Elagoic acid has been shown to inhibit the activity of certain chemicals that are considered carcinogenic, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrozamines, heterocyclical aromatic amines, etc. The mechanism of anticancer action is due to the elimination of free radicals, the inactivation of carcinogens, the reduction of mutation frequency, lipid peroxidation. As indicated by the literature, this elago is active at all stages of cancer development. The results of the study provide us with information on the action of acetic acid at a concentration of 1 100 moles/l of its source on the cancer cells of the cervix, the prostate, the liver, and the liver.
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