Preliminary Pharmacology of Ellagic Acid From Juglans nigra (Black Walnut)

A crystalline compound was isolated from Juglans nigra which by comparison with the known compound was found to be ellagic acid. The ellagic acid injected (i.p.) produced significant sedation, ataxia, potentiated sodium pentobarbital sleeping time, and protected mice from death after electroconvulsive shock. Intravenous injection of ellagic acid caused a fall in blood pressure and an elevation of the T wave, whereas the heart and respiration rate initially increased followed by a decrease. The ellagic acid produced no significant effect on isolated duodenal and uterus segments of the rat.