Pomegranate is a natural plant product which has demonstrated a multitude of beneficial health benefits. Current in vitro and in vivo research have shown that this age-old fruit is composed of natural polyphenolic phytochemicals which exhibit diverse pharmacological potency and potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial/antiviral properties. Pomegranates are also being considered as a cancer chemo-preventive and neuroprotective agents. This book discusses the implications of pomegranate consumption for the management and treatment of an array of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders. New cultivation techniques to improve pomegranate production are also discussed.

Elevated levels of several kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites, e.g. quinolinic acid (QUIN), have been implicated in the aetiology of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The end product of the Kynurenine Pathway is NAD], an essential cofactor for energy metabolism. NAD+ also serves as the sole substrate for the DNA repair enzyme, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). More recently, NAD+ has been identified as an essential substrate for a new class of histone deacetylases known as SIRT1, which has been linked to longevity. Free radical mediated PARP activation and NAD+ depletion may contribute to brain aging and tissue damage in multiple brain disorders. Dealing with an ageing population is a significant challenge for health systems and economies around the world, and strategies to delay or reverse individual age-associated disorders are the subject of intense interest. Dr Braidy's work proposes multiple strategies that will broadly treat age-related disorders by promoting cellular NAD+ anabolism.