Jan. 28, 2010 Scientists at the University of Liverpool and the
Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, have found that a
naturally occurring steroid, present in pomegranate seed, could
be used to stimulate uterine contractions. The team identified
beta-sitosterol -- a steroid that can inhibit the absorption of
cholesterol in the intestine -- as the main constituent of
pomegranate seed extract. The research suggests that pomegranate
extract could be used as a natural stimulant to encourage the
uterus to contract during labour. Pomegranate juice is thought
to have a number of health benefits, from lowering cholesterol
and blood pressure to protecting against some cancers, but until
now there has been no evidence to demonstrate its effects on the
uterus. Researchers investigated pomegranate seed extract --
more highly concentrated than pomegranate juice -- and its
effect on uterine smooth muscle samples. Professor Sue Wray,
from the University's Department of Physiology, said: "Previous
study has suggeste