Ellagic acid in pomegranate suppresses resistin secretion by a novel regulatory mechanism involving the degradation of intracellular resistin protein in adipocytes

► Pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) suppressed the elevated serum resistin in mice. ► PFE reduced resistin secretion without affecting the mRNA expression in 3T3-L1 cells. ► It was suggested that intracellular resistin protein was degraded by PFE treatment. ► Ellagic acid was identified as an active component of PFE. ► Our study provides a novel mechanism for suppressing resistin secretion.