ANI Dec 31, 2011, 12.00AM IST

The study encompassed 60 volunteers, who were given extracts of the whole fruit, including pith, peel and seeds for a month in the form of a capsule.

The researchers kept a check on the activity of chemicals in their bodies and compared it to those who took a placebo.

The study revealed that there was a considerable decrease in the marker, called 8-Oxo-DG, linked with cell damage, which can cause impaired brain, muscle, liver and kidney function as well as ageing effects on the skin.

According to the researchers at ProbelteBio laboratory in Murcia, Spain, this decrease - a hitherto unknown benefit of consuming pomegranate - is thought to slow down the oxidation, or 'rusting', of the DNA in cells which naturally occurs over time, the Daily Mail reported.

They are found in small quantities in the juice but mainly in the inedible rind, husk and white pith, which are converted in the form of a pill or a drink.

"We are very excited about this study which we believe demonstrates that regular consumption of this pomegranate extract can slow down the process of DNA oxidation," said Dr Sergio Streitenberger, who led the study.

"One way to look at ageing is to think of it as rusting, or oxidising, a damaging process. Being able to guard against this process would be a significant breakthrough.," he added.