A tannin rich fraction of the fruit and the isolated constituents ellagic acid and punicalagin inhibited MMP-9 expression and secretion in human THP-1 monocytic leukaemia cells, fed with haemozoin or TNF [30]. Since the same fraction and constituents inhibited the in vitro growth of P. falciparum asexual blood stages [31], the authors suggested that Punica granatum treatments may be beneficial to manage uncomplicated malaria disease and limit the risk of onset of cerebral malaria by controlling the excessive inflammatory response of the host [30]. Here, TNF is linked to cerebral malaria.