A native plant of Northern Africa, pomegranate is an ancient exotic fruit that has captured the attention of medical scientists. It demonstrates amazing UV protective qualities while defending the DNA in the stem cell. It appears that pomegranate is exceptional in that it contains a rare and important polyphenol called ellagic acid. Studies have shown that it is a powerful free radical scavenger that is capable of defending against cancer. 

Pomegranate is effective in increasing the body's glutathione thus increasing our ability to restore - even after severe UV damage. Glutathione is instrumental and in fact needed by the mitochondria to bring about a healing response and required to repair the DNA to defend against cancer.

Modern day scientists such as Dr. Howard Murad have been studying the effects of topical pomegranate since 1990, but he certainly was not the first to detect its impressive healing abilities. Pomegranate is considered to be one of the oldest natural remedies, dating back to Egypt 1552 B.C. Recovered medical documents cite more than 700 remedies for treating disease and pomegranate was one of the most popular ingredients in the formulas. 
 
In the fall of 2003, researchers at the university of Wisconsin evaluated pomegranate's prevention of skin tumours by comparing topical application of pomegranate extract on neonatal mice against TPA (12-o-tetradecanoylphorbo-13-acetate), a strong promoter of chemically induced skin cancer. 

The mice that were pretreated with topical pomegranate showed substantially reduced tumour incidence and lower tumour body burden while 30 percent didn't develop tumours at all. The mice that were not pretreated with pomegranate all developed tumours. Research from South Dakota University and UCLA has reported similar results.

This research has piqued the interest of skin care scientists and the effects have led to the development of several products and procedures to benefit our quest for lasting beauty. Pomegranate has shown that this powerfully packed antioxidant source can have a critical impact on sun protection. The Dermal Plane Pomegranate Peel promotes topical molecules to penetrate by means of epidermal leveling and it is proven for repairing areas of tissue while supporting the life span of DNA, preventing cell irregularities that could lead to cancer.

The protective and healing properties of pomegranate are extremely important today as the rate of skin cancer is increasing faster than any other cancer among Western countries. Continued research may be the key for added skin defense against disease and aging.

Karen V. Bowers has 33 years of experience throughout Canada, US and Europe. If you would like to learn more about medically advanced treatments and products, visit her website at www.newvisage.ca.

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