An Estrogen-like Activity in Pomegranate Juice

Abstract

We examined an estrogen-like activity in the pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice. The juice or its methanol eluate from C18 cartridge competed with 17β-estradiol for estrogen receptor (ER) binding and also stimulated proliferation of human ER-positive cell (MCF-7) in vitro. Furthermore, they effectively increased uterine weight in the ovariectomized rat. On the basis of these data, we concluded that the pomegranate juice contained estrogen-like compounds.