Punicalagin is a hydrolyzable ellagitannin with one of the highest molecular weights among dietary polyphenols, found primarily in the peel (husk) of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum). It is extracted using aqueous-ethanol methods and is the single largest contributor to pomegranate's exceptional antioxidant capacity.
Punicalagin is hydrolyzed in the gut to ellagic acid, which is further converted to urolithins by gut microbiota. It demonstrates potent anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Commercially, punicalagin-standardized pomegranate extract is used in cardiovascular health supplements, anti-aging formulations, and premium antioxidant nutraceutical products.
