Much of pomegranate extract's activity traces back to ellagic acid, one of the most abundant phenolic compounds in the fruit's peel. Research has found ellagic-acid-rich pomegranate extract inhibits tyrosinase activity and reduces UV-induced pigmentation in lab testing, giving it a genuine, if secondary, role in brightening formulas.
Beyond ellagic acid, pomegranate extracts contain a range of other polyphenols, including catechins and gallic acid, that contribute broad antioxidant activity, though the exact potency of a given extract depends heavily on which part of the fruit, peel, seed, or flesh, it was derived from.
Pomegranate Extract References
Yoshimura M, et al. Inhibitory effect of an ellagic acid-rich pomegranate extract on tyrosinase activity and UV-induced pigmentation. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 2005
"Antibacterial, antioxidant and tyrosinase-inhibition activities of pomegranate fruit peel methanolic extract" — BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
"The Pomegranate Flower Water Extract Negatively Regulates Melanogenesis by Suppressing MITF Expression" — PMC, 2024
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