Known in several cultures as the Tree of Life, and originating from the area between Iran and northern India, the Pomegranate (Punica granatum) has gained popularity not only for its delicious fruit and juice, but also for its antioxidant benefits to the cardiovascular system, and neuroprotective effects.
The Pomegranate is thought by some to be the original “forbidden fruit”, not the apple, and in several cultures has a long history of folklore and symbolism.
The tree itself is not only grown for its fruit, but also for its ornamental quality, as it produces large red fruits at the end of pendulous branches during the period between September and February in the Northern Hemisphere, at a time when other garden plants may not be as showy.
Pomegranate fruits, but also other plant parts have long been used in traditional medicine for a variety of uses. In Ayurveda, it is known to have the rare benefit of being balancing to all three Doshas- Vata, Pita and Kapha.
There are hundreds of different cultivars, but typically one fruit is roughly the size of an apple and produces between 200-1,400 seeds. They are drought tolerant and fairly pest-free in dry climates.
The major bioactives present are phenolic compounds and fatty acids, along with a range of others including alkaloids, punicalagin, ellagitannins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, flavonoids, luteolin and punicic acid.
There is interest and ongoing investigation on production of the various pomegranate bioactives for market that are found in not only the fruit, but many other plant parts.
In scientific investigation, the fruits have been found to have cytokine balancing, antibacterial activity and to promote urinary health, digestive health and athletic performance; whereas, the seed oil has been found to support skin, cognitive and breast health.
Drinking Pomegranate juice produced clinical benefits for cardiovascular health. Pomegranate extracts have also shown some potential benefit in exercise performance. Additionally, a recent clinical study showed potential for pomegranate seed oil in promoting memory.
In an interesting recent preclinical study, evidence showed that perhaps Pomegranate has effects on promoting liver and blood lipid balance through shifting microbiota and producing urolithin-like microbial metabolites.
To learn more about some of these Indian Botanicals, see my Indian botanical deep dive posts, visit K. Patel Phyto Extractions Pvt. Ltd. , or www.phytoextractskp.com to subscribe to our newsletter
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*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.