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Family Punicaceae
Granada
Punica granatum Linn.
POMEGRANATE

Shi liu

Scientific names Common names
Punica granatum Linn. Dalima (Sul.) 
Punica nana L Granada (Tag.)
Punica spinosa Lam.       [Illegitimate] Pomegranate (Engl.) 
Granada is a common name shared by (1) Granadilla, Granada (Pang.), Passiflora incarnata, and (2) Granada, Punica granatum.
Punica granatum L. is an accepted name The Plant List

Other vernacular names
AARABIC: Darabhte-naiy.
BENGALI: Assami, Dalim.
BURMESE: Thale, Talebin, Salebin.
CHINESE: Shi liu.
CROATIAN : Sipak.
DANISH : Granatæble.
DUTCH : Granaatappel.
ESTONIAN : Harilik granaadipuu.
FRENCH : Ecorce de grenade (rind), Ecorce de grenadier (bark), Grenade (fruit), Grenadier (tree).
GERMAN : Granatapfel, Granatapfelbaum, Granatapfelstrauch, Granatwurzelrinde (rind).
GREEK : Rodi, Rodia.
GUJARATI: Dadam.
HINDI: Anar.
ITALIAN : Granato , Granato a frutto dolce, Melagrana, Melograno, Pomogranato.
JAPANESE : Zakuro, Zakuro, Zakuro.
KANNADA: Daalimbe.
KHMER: Totum.
KOREAN : Seog ryu
LAOTIAN: Phiilaa.
MALAYALAM: Madalam.
MALAY : Buah delima, Delima (Indonesia), Delima (Bali).
NEPALESE : Anaar, Daariim.
NORWEGIAN : Granateple.
RUSSIAN : Granat.
SANSKRIT : Dadima, Darimba, Madhubiija.
SPANISH : Beejpur, Granada, Granado, Mangrano, Pomogranado.
TAMIL: Madulai.
THAI : Ma ko, Thap thim.

Gen info
- Pomegranate has been in traditional medicinal use for more than 3000 years. Ancient and mystical, it has been written about in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Jewish Torah, and the Babylonian Talmud as a sacred fruit with powers that bestow fertility, abundance, and good luck. It is also part of the iconography of rituals, art, and mythology - the personal emblem of the Roman Emperor, Maximilian, the symbol and heraldic device of the ancient city of Granada in Spain.
- The word "pomegranate" derives from Latin, meaning "fruit of many seeds."

Botany
Granada is a shrub growing 2 to 3 meters high. Branchlets are slender and 4-angled. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic; 4 to 6 centimeters long, short-stalked, and pointed at both ends. Flowers are red and showy, usually with six segments in the calyx which are 2.5 to 3 centimeters long. Petals are obovate, about 2 centimeters long. Stamens are numerous. Fruit is rounded, reddish-yellow or purplish, 7 to 10 centimeters in diameter. Rind is thin, tough, and brittle. Fruit contains numerous seeds, each seed surrounded by a watery, translucent, flavorful pinkish-red pulp.

Distribution
- Garden plant in the Philippines.
- Nowhere spontaneous.

- Native of southwestern Asia.
- Has been introduced in all tropical countries.

Constituents
- Fruit is rich in vitamin C; a good source of iron.
- Study yielded ellagic acid ellagitannins (including punicalagins), punicic acid, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, estrogenic flavonols and flavones.
- Pomegranate juice yields anthocyanins, glucose, ascorbic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, quercetin, rutin, minerals, and amino acids.
- Seed oil yields 95% punicic acid, pluellagic acid, fatty acids and sterols.
- Pericarp yields phenolic punicalagins, gallic acid, other fatty acids, catechin, EGCG, quercetin, rutin, other flavanoids, flavones, flavonones, anthocyanins.
- Flowers yield gallic acid, ursolic acid, triterpenoids, including maslinic and asiatic acid.
- Leaves yield tannins (punicalin and punicafolin) and flavone glycosides, including luteolin and apigenin.
- Bark yields four alkaloids: pelletierine, isopelletierine, methyl-pelletierine, and pseudo-pelletierine; roots and bark yield ellagitannins (punicalin and punicalagin) and piperidine alkaloids.
- Phytochemical evaluation of various flower extracts yielded steroids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins and proteins. (
21)
- Elemental analysis yielded (conc.) sodium / Na 1.279 mg/L, potassium / K 55.19 mg/L, calcium / Ca 1.650 mg/L, magnesium / Mg 3.721 mg/L, copper / Cu 0.231 mg/L, zinc / Zn 0.430 mg/L, iron / Fe 0.466 mg/L, cobalt / Co 0.031 mg/L, manganese / Mn 0.033 mg/L, and lead / Pb 1.119 mg/L. (45)
- Nutrition analysis (87 gms or 1/2 cup of seeds) yield 72 calories, 16.3 carbohydrates, 1.5 g protein, 1 gm fat, 3.5 gm fiber, 11.9 gms sugar, 14.3 mcg vitamin K (17.9 % DV), 8.9 mg vitamin C (14.8%DV), 8.9 mcg folate (8.3%DV), 205 mg potassium (5.9%DV), 0.07 mg vitamin B6 (3.5%DV), 31 mg phosphorus (3.1%DV). (57)
- Nutrient values per 100 g raw edible portion yielded: water 77.93 g, 83 Kcal, protein 1.67 g, total lipid (fat) 1.17, ash 0.53 g, carbohydrates 18.70 g, fiber 4.0 g, total sugars 13.67 g, calcium 10 mg, iron 0.3 mg, magnesium 12 mg, phosphorus 36 mg, potassium 236 mg, sodium 3 mg, ascorbic acid 10.2 mg, total choline 7.6 mg. (Adapted from USDA Nutrient Database) (58)


Properties
- In Indian traditional medicine, considered astringent, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, laxative, diuretic, stomachic, cardiotonic and refrigerant.
- In Iran, flowers used as astringent, hemostatic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral.
- Pelletierine is considered anti-taeniacidal; isopelletierine, antihelmintic.
- Rind of the fruit is astringent.
- Seeds are stomachic; pulp is cardiacal and stomachic.
- Leaves, seeds, bark and roots considered hypotensive, antispasmodic and anthelmintic.
- Bark is considered antibacterial, antiviral and astringent.
- Seeds are demulcent and stomachic.
- Considered antiparasitic, blood tonic, antiulcer, antidiarrheal.
- Studies have shown antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, analgesic, antigenotoxicity, antidiarrheal,
anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, wound healing, antidiabetic, radioprotective properties.

Parts used
Roots, flowers, seeds and fruit rinds.

Uses
Edibility / Nutritional
- Fruit contains vitamin C, citric and malic acids. Eaten green as boiled vegetable; ripe, iced and sugared.
- One pomegranate provides 40% of vita
min C daily requirement.
- Seeds and leaves used in beverage tea, Fruit used in making jams, jellies, sauces, salad dressings and vinegars. Anardana, a powdered form of pomegranate seed, is a form of spice. (60)

Folkloric
- Decoction of root bark used for tapeworm.
- Decoction of tender leaves used as gargle for buccal afflictions.
- Decoction of roots used for tuberculosis, chronic debility, chronic feverishness.
- Decoction of leaves used as eyewash.
- Powdered flower buds used for bronchitis.
- Decoction of juice of the flower with equal parts of Cynodon dactylon used to stop epistaxis and as gargle.
Infusion of flowers used as vermifuge.
- The bark (alkaloids) used for tapeworms.
- Rind of the
fruit and flowers, combined with aromatics such as cloves, cinnamon, coriander or pepper, are used as astringent in bowel affections not associated with tenesmus.
- Decoction of the dried rind of the fruit used for stomach pains and dysentery; infusion used for colitis.
- Juice believed to be beneficial for leprosy.
- Bark, leaves and immature fruit (tannins) used as astringents for diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhages.
- Dried pulverized flower buds used for bronchitis.
- In India, rind of fruit used for diarrhea.
- In
Cuban traditional medicine, used for treatment of respiratory diseases.
- In traditional
Thai medicine, used for diarrhea.
- Juice of fresh fruit used for dyspepsia and as a cooling and thirst-quenching drink for fevers.
- The Chinese and Annamites use the rind of the fruit and root bark as vermifuge.
- In Mexico, decoction of flowers used a gargle for throat inflammation.
- In Indian traditional medicine, use for diarrhea.
- In Myanmar, decoction of dried bark of stem and root used as taeniafuge.
- In Iran, flowers used as remedy for cut wounds, bronchitis, diarrhea, digestive problems, male sex power reconstitution. In Unani medicine, used for diabetes.
- In China, flowers used for premature graying of hair in young men.

- In Mediterranean folk medicine, seeds used for treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Others
- Ink: Ink prepared from fruit rind.
- Fodder: Leaves used as fodder by domesticated stock. (61)
- Wood: Hardness and durability makes it useful for making farm implements. Branches used as firewood. (61)
- Tannin / dyestuff: Root bark yields a black ink rich in tannins and used in dyeing and tannin leather. (61)

Studies
Therapeutic Potentials: Numerous in vitro, animal, and clinical trials have shown pomegranate to be a potent antioxidant, superior to red wine and equal to or better than green tea. It has also shown anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties, with beneficial effects in various disease processes such as Alzheimer's, osteoarthritis, neonatal brain injury, male infertility. (1)
Toxicity / Safety Studies / Whole Fruit: Study focused on the toxicity evaluation of whole fruit hydroalcoholic extract of Punica granatum. The LD50 of the extract in OF-1 mice of both sexes after intraperitoneal administration was 731 mg/kg. Toxic effects of P granatum fruit extract only occurred at higher doses than those effective in models where the anti-viral activity has been studied in Cuban folk medicine. (3)
Antibacterial Activity: Extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all organisms except P aeruginosa. Study suggests the potential of bioactive compounds to be developed from P. granatum pericarp for use in treatment of GIT bacterial infection. (4)
Antifungal / Stomatitis: Use of Punica granatum as an antifungal agent against candidosis associated with denture stomatitis: Study concludes that the extract of P. granatum may be useful as a topical antifungal for the treatment of candidiasis associated with denture stomatitis. (5) Study evaluated the efficacy of Punica granatum extract on the clinical management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
Inhibitory Effects on Verocytotoxin Production by E. coli: Phytochemical screening yielded sterols, flavonoids, triterpenes, phenols and tannins. The study showed high activity against all strains of E. coli. A bioactive agent may be developed from Punica granatum pericarp as an alternative treatment for E. coli O157:H7 infection. (6)
Antidiarrheal / Seed: Methanol extract of P granatum seed extract showed significant inhibitory activity against castor-oil induced diarrhea and PGE2 induced enteropooling in rats. Results establish the efficacy of PG seed extract as an antidiarrheal agent. (7)
Antiviral: Study of aqueous extracts of the whole fruits have shown activity against the influenza virus.
Analgesic Activity: Flower extracts of P. granatum showed significant analgesic activity.
Antibacterial Activity: In a study of 21 plants extracts from five Thai medicinal plants, tested against Staph aureus and E col;i, the ethanolic extract of P granatum possessed the most outstanding in vitro antibacterial activity.
Genotoxicity: Study evaluated the genotoxicity of a hydroalcoholic whole fruit extract of Punica granatum. Results of in vivo and in vitro assays detected DNA damage at different expression levels. (8)
Antibacterial / Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella typhi: In a study of 54 plant methanol and aqueous extracts on activity against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi, P granatum methanol extract was one of those that strong antibacterial activity.
Antioxidant: In vitro assay showed the pomegranate juice and seed extract to have 2-3 times the antioxidant capacity of either red wine or green tea. Extracts have been shown to scavenge free radicals and decrease macrophage oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in animals.
Hepatoprotective: Study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of pomegranate peel extract against the toxic effects of CCl4. Histopath studies supported the protective effects of the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel by restoring the normal hepatic architecture.
Anticarcinogenic: In vitro assay using three prostate cancer cell lines demonstrated the extracts of juice, seed oil and peel to significantly inhibit prostate cancer cell invasiveness and proliferation, cause cell cycle disruption, induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor growth.
Anti-Inflammatory / COX-Inhibition: Cold pressed pomegranate seed oil have been shown to inhibit both COX and lipooxygenase enzymes in vitro.
(12)
Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed evidence of the bioavailability and bioactivity of compounds in pomegranate fruit after oral ingestion. Results suggest that PFE-derived bioavailable compounds may exert anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine-induced production of PGE-2 and NO in vivo.
Wound Healing / Flowers: Ethanolic extract of Punica granatum flowers showed significant wound healing activity when topically administered in rats. Best results of histopathological evaluation were also obtained with P granatum. (13)

Wound Healing / Peel: Study of methanolic extracts of dried pomegranate peels showed high content of phenolic compounds (44%) along with other constituents. Analysis also showed the presence of gallic acid and catechin as major components. Animals treated showed moderate to good healing depending on the concentration of the gel formulation. (16)
Stress Reducing: Study showed pomegranate juice to have benefits in reducing chronic stress. The study was funded by a pomegranate juice company.
Immunomodulatory: An aqueous suspension of the fruit rind powder of Punica granatum was found to stimulate the cell-mediated and humoral components of the immune system in rabbits. (15)
Antioxidant / Fruit Rind Extract: Study of aqueous and alcoholic fruit rind extracts showed good antioxidant effect. Phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids were the major phytochemicals in both extracts. (17)
Antitumor / Prostate Cell Line by Apoptosis Induction: A study evaluated ethanol extracts of Punica granatum L. var. spinosa for possible cytotoxic activity on human prostate cell lines. Results showed dose-depended suppression of proliferation of PC3 cells with in vitro attenuation of human prostate cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. (
20)
Dental Plaque Effects / Fruit: Study evaluated a hydroalcoholic extract of P. granatum fruit for antibacterial effect on dental plaque microorganisms. Results showed both HAEP and chlorhexedine were effective against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, and Proteus species, as well as E. coli. Antibacterial activity was attributed to the ellagitannin, punicalagin. (
22)
Antidiabetic and Lipid Effects / Crude Husk Powder: Study showed a decreased in glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, and increase in HDL in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats treated with crude powder of husk. (
23)
Antidiarrheal / Peels: Study on an aqueous extract of Punica granatum peels showed antidiarrheal activity with concentration dependent inhibition of spontaneous movement of isolated rat ileum and attenuation of acetylcholine-induced contractions and dose-dependent decrease of gastrointestinal transits against castor oil-induced diarrhea enteropooling. (
24)
Anti-Inflammatory / Membrane Stabilizing / Fruit Peel: Study of various extracts of fruit peel showed anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing properties. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed better activity attributed to their higher phenolic contents. (
25)
Antifungal / Malassezia / Leaves: Study evaluated the antifungal activity of various extracts of P. granatum leaves against Malassezia species which commonly cause superficial skin infections in humans. Results showed methanol crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest antifungal activity. (
26)
Anti-Ulcerogenic / Peel: Study evaluated the anti-ulcerogenic effects of pomegranate peel methanol extract on male Wistar albino rats on indomethacin induced gastric mucosal damage. Results showed curative potential attributed to its high antioxidant activity. (
27)
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 40 patients evaluated the efficacy of Punica granatum gel vs placebo gel on the clinical management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Findings reveal the PG extract in form of a 10% oral gel may be beneficial in reducing RAS pain and reducing overall period of complete healing. (
28)
Radioprotective / Fruit Rind: Study evaluated the radioprotective potential of Punica granatum fruit rind extract. Results showed protection of mouse testes against radiation induced damage, possibly through scavenging of free radicals and increasing antioxidant status. Results also suggest potential for restoring fertility in irradiated patients. (
29)
Anti-Proliferative / Pro-Apoptotic / Human Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines: Study of aqueous extract from P. sacharosa, E. elatior, and P. granatum showed dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in MV4-11 and K562 leukemic cells mainly via apoptosis mechanism. (
30)
Anthelmintic / Fruit Peel: Study of methanolic extract of fruit peel of P. granatum showed dose dependent anthelmintic activity against earthworm Pheretima posthuma. (
31)
Anticonvulsant / Seed: Study evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of an ethanolic extract of P. granatum in strychnine (STR)-induced and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure models in rats. An ethanol extract showed dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity against STR- and PTZ-induced seizure models, attributed to its saponin, flavonoids, triterpenes and alkaloid ingredients. (
32)
Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis / Juice / Catalytic Activity: Study reports the synthesis of AuNPs using the juice of Punica granatum. The synthesized colloidal AuNPs have been utilized as catalyst for the borohydride reduction of 4-nitrophenol. Results suggest a potential for biomedical applications as well as nanoscience and nanotechnology. (
33)
Therapeutic Potential for Neurodegenerative Disorders: Study investigated the possible protective effects of different extracts of promegranate against SGD-induced PC12 cells injury. Results showed concentration dependent suppression of DNA damage by various extracts of pulp and juice, indicating a cytoprotective property under SGD conditions in PC12 cells, suggesting a therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders. (
34)
Potential Biogas Fermentation with P. granatum Peel: Study of biogas fermentation with P. granatum peel at total fermentation time of 35d was 1900mL. The biogas yield of P. granatum peel was calculated at 264 mL/g TS or 271 mL/g VS. (
35)
Pleiotropic Cardiac Effects in Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy: P. granatum exhibits pleiotropic cardiac effects in PAAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy in a dose dependent manner possibly through its PPAE (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor) dual agonist action. (
36)
Anthocyanins / No Renal Protection Despite Antioxidant Activity: Study in 30 male rabbits showed the consumption of promegranate peel extract containing anthocyanins (polyphenol content 1g/kg diet) despite a significant increase in serum antioxidant capacity did not protect the kidneys from hypercholesterolemia-induced damages. (
37)
Anti-Colon Cancer: Pomegranate juice yields elagitannins and their intestinal bacterial metabolites, urolithins (urolithin A and C), has been shown to inhibit CYP1-mediated EROD activity in vitro. Study suggests the ellagitannins and urolithins liberated in the colon from administration of pomegranate juice, in considerable amounts, could potentially reduce the risk of colon cancer progress through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. (40) (41)
Estrogenic / Peel: Study evaluated the estrogenic effect of alcoholic extract of P. granatum peel in ovariectomized rats. The extract showed dose dependent activity, with significant increase in uterine weight, femur BMD, and femur hardness, together with increased of serum calcium and phosphorus in the serum and significant decrease in the urine. Results suggest potent estrogenic activity in ovariectomized rats and supports its folkloric use in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. (43)
Wound Healing / Rind: Study evaluated an ethanolic extract of rinds of P granatum as antimicrobial on 6 types of bacteria viz. P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, S. aureus, E. coli, Streptococcus spp., and K. pneumonia and a 4 types of fungi viz. C. albicans, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and A. valvas. Results showed antibacterial and antifungal activity on all tested bacteria and fungi, with improvement of wound contraction and healing. Both ointment and lotion formulation of the rind showed wound healing properties. (44)
• Analgesic / Anti-Inflammatory / Rind: Study evaluated an aqueous-ethanolic (50%) extracts of fruit rind, flower, and leaves of P. granatum for oral anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Oral pretreatment with dried extracts produced statistically significant and dose dependent inhibition of edema induced by carrageenan at all test doses. Extracts also showed analgesic activity in mice against tail-flick method. (46)
• Anticancer: / Colon and Hepatocellular Cell Lines: Study evaluated the anticancer potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) and harmal (Rhazya stricta) against colon cancer (CACO) and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. All extracts showed a significant dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation. In this study, Rhazya showed highest cytotoxic effect. (47)
• Acute and Subacute Toxicity Study / Whole Fruit and Seeds: Study evaluated the acute and sub-acute toxicity profile of ethanolic extracts of P. granatum whole fruit and seeds and synthetic ellagic acid in Swiss albino mice. Results suggest P. granatum whole fruit and seeds ethanolic extract is safe up to 2000 mg/kbw oral administration and can be considered non-toxic. (48)
• Hepatoprotective / CCl4 Toxicity / Fruit Juice and Seeds: Study evaluated different concentrations of various extracts of fruit juice and seed against CCl4-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. The hydroalcoholic extracts of fruit juice and seeds with concentrations 100 to 1000 µg/ml exhibited hepatoprotection against CCl4 cytotoxicity. (49)
• Protection of Testes Against CCl4 Intoxication: Study evaluated the protective effect of pomegranate juice on 28 Wistar albino male rat testes. Pomegranate juice showed significant elevation in testosterone, LH, and FSH depleted by injection f CCl4. Results demonstrated pomegranate juice augments the antioxidant defense mechanism against CCl4-induced reproductive toxicity and suggests a potential therapeutic role in free radical mediated disease. (50)
• Insecticidal / Antifungal / Fruit Peel: Different fruit peel extracts were evaluated for in vitro insecticidal (Myzus persicae and Phthorimaea operculella) and antifungal (Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium sambucinum, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger) activities. Significant mortalities were recorded on adults treated with aqueous, ethanol, and methanol extracts. All the extracts were effective in checking mycelial growth only for P. digitatum and F. sambucinum. Results suggest the extracts have potential in protecting plants from pests and disease infections. (51)
• Benefit for Osteoarthritis / Peel: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of pomegranate peel extract on clinical signs and symptoms of knee OA on 60 women aged 38-60. Results showed the peel extract reduced pain and improved clinical signs and symptoms in women with knee OA. (52)
• Effect on Oral Candidiasis / Peel: In vitro study evaluated the antifungal efficacy of P. granatum peel extract against oral Candida compared with clotrimazole. Results showed statistically significant (p<0.05) antifungal efficacy. The MIC of the peel extract approximated that of clotrimazole. (54)
• Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms / Seed Oil: An individually controlled cohort study investigated the safety and effectiveness of pomegranate seeds for patients with menopausal symptoms. Participants showed significant improvements in all domains of the menopausal rating scale (MRS), including difficult to treat urogenital symptoms. Tolerability was excellent. Results suggest further investigation of the seed oil rich in ß-sitosterol for treatment of menopausal symptoms. (55)
• Hepatoprotective / Paracetamol Toxicity: Study evaluated the protective effect of a lyophilized extract of Punica granatum in an acute liver injury model induced by paracetamol in Swiss albino mice. Results showed the extract alone could cause mild to moderate liver injury. However, when given simultaneously with paracetamol at dose of 400 mg/kg, results showed a protective effect. (56)
• Inhibition of Prostate Cancer Growth: Study showed pomegranate extract inhibited NF-kappaB and cell viability of prostate cancer cell lines in a dose dependent manner in vitro. Maximal PE-induced apoptosis was dependent on PE-mediated NF-kappaB blockade. Study presents pomegranate extract as a promising dietary potential for the prevention of emergence of androgenc independence driven in part by heightened NF-kappaB activity. (58)
• Breast Cancer Chemopreventive Property / Fruit: Previous study reported the anticancer effects of pomegranate extracts in human breast cancer cells in vitro and chemopreventive activity of fermented juice polyphenols (W) in mouse mammary organ culture (MMOC). This study showed enhanced breast cancer preventive potential both for purified compound peak B and pomegranate seed oil, greater than previously reported for pomegranate fermented juice polyphenols. (59)
• Antimicrobial / Periodontal Pathogens: Study of pomegranate glycolic extract (PGE) showed antimicrobial activity against periodontal pathogen Prophyromonas gingivalis using Galleria mellonella as in vivo model. (61)

Herb-Drug Interactions
ACE Inhibitor: May increase the effect of antihypertensive ACE inhibitor and cause low blood pressure Statins: One case report of rhabdomyolysis after taking rosuvastatin and pomegranate juice. Drinking pomegranate juice might decrease the liver breakdown of rosuvastatin (Crestor) and increase the effects and side effects of rosuvastatin. (
42)
Warfarin: Pomegranate may interact with coumadin and increase risk of bleeding. (
38)
Medications Affected by Liver Cytochrome P450: Some medications are changed and broken down in the liver through cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) substrates. Pomegranate, by decreasing the breakdown of drugs, might increase the effects and side effects of some medications: amitriptyline (Elavil), codeine, desipramine (Norpramine) flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), among others. (
42)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Seeds, bottle juice, tablets, powdered capsules, supplements in the cybermarket.

© Godofredo U. Stuart Jr., M.D. / StuartXchange

Updated August 2018 / October 2017 / August 2016


Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
Raw digital photo of fruit image insert provided by Prudencio Villa / Modifications by G. Stuart
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Public Domain / File:Illustration Punica granatum1.jpg / Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany / GFDL by Kurt Stueber / Wikimedia Commons
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Seeds /Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Therapeutic Applications of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A Review / Julie Jurenka, MT, ASCP / Alternative Medicine Review Volume 13, Number 2 2008
(2)
Pomegranate / Punica granatum L.
(3)
Studies on the toxicity of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) whole fruit extracts / Vidal A, Fallarero A et al / J Ethnopharmacol., 2003 Dec; 89(2-3): pp 295-300. /
PMID: 14611895
(4)
Antibacterial Activity of Punica granatum L. against Gastro Intestinal Tract Infection Causing Organisms / B V Pradeep, M K Manojbabu and M Palaniswamy / Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 1085-89. 2008.
(5)
Use of Punica granatum as an antifungal agent against candidosis associated with denture stomatitis / Laurylene Cesar de Souza Vasconcelos et al / Mycoses, Volume 46, Issue 5-6, pages 192–196, June 2003
(6)
Inhibitory Effects of Active Compounds from Punica granatum on Verocytotoxin Production by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157:H7 / Voravuthikunchai Supauang Piyawan et al / Journal of health science 51(5), 590-596, 2005-10-01

(7)
Studies on antidiarrhoeal activity of Punica granatum seed extract in rats /
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Volume 68, Issues 1-3, 15 December 1999, Pages 205-208 / doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00102-6
(8)
Assessment of the genotoxic risk of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) whole fruit extracts
/ Angel Sanchez-Lamar, Gladys Fonseca, Jorge Luis Fuentes et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 115 (2008) 416–422
(9)
Analgesic activity of various extracts of Punica granatum (Linn) flowers / Guno Sindhu Chakraborthy / International Journ of Green Pharmacy, Vol 2, No 3, pp 145-146, 2008 /

(10)
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF THAI MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS ON THE SKIN INFECTIOUS MICROORGANISMS / S Chansakaow et al / ISHS Acta Horticulturae 678: III WOCMAP Congress on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Volume 4
(11)
Antimicrobial evaluation of some medicinal plants for their anti-enteric potential against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typh / Rani, P. and Khullar, N. / Phytotherapy Research, 18: 670–673, 2004 / doi: 10.1002/ptr.1522
(12)
Bioavailable constituents/metabolites of pomegranate (Punica granatum L) preferentially inhibit COX2 activity ex vivo and IL-1beta-induced PGE2 production in human chondrocytes in vitro / Meenakshi Shukla, Kalpana Gupta et al / Journal of Inflammation 2008, 5:9doi:10.1186/1476-9255-5-9
(13)
THE WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF FLOWER EXTRACTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM AND ACHILLEA KELLALENSIS IN WISTAR RATS / ABDOLLAH GHASEMI PIRBALOUTI, ABED KOOHPAYEH and IRAJ KARIMI / Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica ñ Drug Research, Vol. 67 No. 1 pp. 107ñ110, 2010
(14)
Studies on Antioxidant Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peel Extract Using in Vivo Models / Kotamballi N, Chidambara Murthy et al / J. Agric. Food Chem., 2002, 50 (17), pp 4791–4795
/ DOI: 10.1021/jf0255735
(15)
Immunomodulatory activity of Punica granatum in rabbits—a preliminary study / R Gracious
Ross et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 78, Issue 1, November 2001, Pages 85-87 / doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00287-2
(16)
Study on Wound Healing Activity of Punica granatum Peel / K N Chidambar Murthy, Vitaai K Reddy et al / Journal of Medicinal Food. June 2004, 7(2): 256-259. doi:10.1089/1096620041224111.
(17)
ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIALS OF PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT RIND EXTRACTS / S. Rajan, S Mahalakshmi V M Deepa et al / International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol 3, Issue 3, 2011
(18)
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Punica Granatum Peel Extracts Against Oral Pathogens /Sh. Abdollahzadeh, RY. Mashouf, H. Mortazavi et al / Journal of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (2011; Vol. 8, No.1)

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Sorting Punica names / Maintained by: Michel H. Porcher, / MULTILINGUAL MULTISCRIPT PLANT NAME DATABASE
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Studies on the Cytotoxic Activities of Punica granatum L. var. spinosa (Apple Punice) Extract on Prostate Cell Line by Induction of Apoptosis / Koushan Sineh Sepehr, Behzad Baradaran,* Masoumeh Mazandarani, Vahid Khori, and Fatemeh Zare Shahneh / ISRN Pharm. 2012; 2012: 547942 / doi: 10.5402/2012/547942
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PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE FLOWERS OF PUNICA GRANATUM (L) / Akhilesh Kumar Tripathi*, Seema Kohli / IJPRD, 2011; Vol 3(11): January-2012 (1 - 7)
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Therapeutic Applications of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A Review / Julie Jurenka, MT (ASCP) / Alternative Medicine Review Volume 13, Number 2 2008
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Antidiabetic and Hypolipidemic Activity of Punica granatum Linn on Alloxan Induced Rats / S. Radhika, K.H. Smila and R. Muthezhilan / World Journal of Medical Sciences 6 (4): 178-182, 2011 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2011
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Antidiarrheal Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Punica granatum (Pomegranate) Peels / E.Y. Qnais, A.S. Elokda, Y.Y. Abu Ghalyun, and F.A. Abdulla / Pharmaceutical Biology 2007, Vol. 45, No. 9, pp. 715–720
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Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Membrane Stabilizing Properties of various extracts of Punica granatum
/ L.(Lythraceae) *G. Prakash Yoganandam, K.Ilango, Sucharita De / International Journal of PharmTech Research, Vol.2, No.2, pp 1260-1263, April-June 2010
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EFFICACY OF PHYTOCHEMICALS PRESENT IN LEAVES OF PUNICA GRANATUM AGAINST MALASSEZIA SPECIES / Perera, D.F.T.N., Fernando, K.M.E.P., Wijendra, W.A.S. / ADVANCED JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOTHERAPEUTICS, Vol 2, No 1, 2015
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Anti-Ulcerogenic Activity of the Pomegranate Peel (Punica granatum) Methanol Extract / Ghazaleh Moghaddam, Mohammad Sharifzadeh, Gholamreza Hassanzadeh, Mahnaz Khanavi, Mannan Hajimahmood* / Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol.4 No.10A(2013), Article ID:37683,6 pages DOI:10.4236/fns.2013.410A008
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The efficacy of Punica granatum extract in the management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis / Parichehr Ghalayani, Behzad Zolfaghary, Ali Reza Farhad, Atefeh Tavangar, Bahram Soleymani / J Res Pharm Pract, 2013;2:88-92
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Radioprotective role of Punica granatum fruit rind extract: A biochemical study on mouse testis / A. Mathur* and J. Sharma / Int. J. Radiat. Res., Vol. 11 No. 2, April 2013
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Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of P.sacharosa, E.elatior and P.granatum aqueous extract on human myeloid leukaemia: A preliminary study / Siti Asmaa Mat Jusoh, Muhammad Farid Johan, Azman Seeni Mohamed / Asian J Med Res. 2012; 1(4): 146-151
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Evaluation of Anthelmintic Potential in Fruit Peel of Punica granatum Linn. (Pomegranate) / Yashwant Swarnakar*, Minakshi Shroff, AK. Jha, Devendra Sahu and Kiran Dhurandhar / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Vol. 2 (1) Jan-Mar 2013
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Anticonvulsant activity of the ethanolic extract of Punica granatum L. seed / Saeed Mehrzadi; Samir Sadr; Azam Hosseinzadeh; Babak Gholamine; Ali Shahbazi; Hasan FallahHuseini; Habib Ghaznavi / DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1743132814Y.0000000460
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Synthesis of gold nanoparticles using renewable Punica granatum juice and study of its catalytic activity /
Shib Shankar Dash • Braja Gopal Bag / Appl Nanosci (2014) 4:55–59 / DOI 10.1007/s13204-012-0179-4
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Protective Effect of Punica granatum L. against Serum/Glucose Deprivation-Induced PC12 Cells Injury /
Fatemeh Forouzanfar, Amir Afkhami Goli, Elham Asadpour, Ahmad Ghorbani, and Hamid Reza Sadeghnia / Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2013 (2013) / http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/716730
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Experimental Study on Potential of Biogas Fermentation with Punica granatum Peel / Edited by B. Xu and H.Y. Li / Advanced Materials Research (Volume 763), Chapter 1: Applied Materials Science, Chemical Engineering and Technologies of Material Processing / DOI 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.763.151
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Implication of Punica granatum Leaves in Experimental Cardiac Hypertrophy / Rohini A. *, Neeraj Agrawal, M.J.N. Chandrasekar, U.V.S. Sara / The Pharma Innovation - Journal, Vol 2, No 1, 2013
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Study of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract containing anthocyanins on fatty streak formation in the renal arteries in hypercholesterolemic rabbits / Fatemeh Sharifiyan, Ahmad Movahedian-Attar, Nafiseh Nili, Sedigheh Asgary / Adv Biomed Res 2016, 5:8
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Pomegranate: Possible Interactions / University of Maryland Medical Center
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Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Punica granatum: An Overview / Garachh Dipak, Patel Axay, Chakraborty Manodeep, Kamath Jagdish V / IRJP 2012, 3(2)
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Colon cancer chemopreventive activities of pomegranate ellagitannins and urolithins. / Kasimsetty SG, Bialonska D, Reddy MK, Ma G, Khan SI, Ferreira D. / J Agric Food Chem, 2010; 58: pp 2180-2187.
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Pomegranate (Punica granatum L). Ancient seeds for modern cure? Review of potential therapeutic applications / Prasan R Bhandari / International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases, Vol 2, Issue 3, pp 171-184 (2012)
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Pomegranate—Interactions / WEBMd
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Estrogenic activity of Punica granatum L. peel extract / Swaha Satpathy, Arjun Patra, Ajit P Purohit / Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction, Volume 2, Issue 1, March 2013, Pp 19-24 / doi:10.1016/S2305-0500(13)60109-8
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Effect of Punica granatum rinds ethanolic extract on healing of fungated wounds in rabbits / Muna H. AL-Saeed, Rasha M. Othman, Arwa H. AL-Saeed / AL-Qadisiya Journal of Vet. Med. Sci., Vol 14, No 1, 2015
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Elemental Analysis of Paeonia emodi and Punica granatum by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
/ Faizul Haq, Shamsur Rehman, Habib Ahmad, Zafar Iqbal, Rahat Ullah / American Journal of Biochemistry 2012, 2(4): 47-50 / DOI: 10.5923/j.ajb.20120204.02
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EVALUTION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANATUM LINN
/ Priyanka Bagri, Mohd. Ali, Vidhu Aeri, Shahnaz Sultana, Malay Bhowmik / International Journal of Drug Development and Research
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Evaluation of the anticancer activities of pomegranate (Punica granatum) and harmal (Rhazya stricta) plants grown in Saudi arabia / International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
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ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF THE ETHANOL EXTRACTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM (LLINN)).. WHOLE FRUIT AND SEEDS AND SYNTHETIC ELLAGIC ACID IN SWISS ALBINO MICE / B. SATHEESH KUMAR BHANDARY*, K. P SHARMILA , N.. SUCHETHA KUMARI , S. VADISHA / Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, Vol 6, Suppl 4, 2013
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Hepatoprotective Effect of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Fruit Juice and Seed Extracts against CCL4-Induced Toxicity / Hossein Niknahad; Akram Jamshidzadeh; Marjan Abbasian; Abbas Rezaeian Mehrabadi / Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Article 4, Volume 8, Summer 2012, pp 181-187.
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Protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice on testes against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats / Ebtesam M Al-OlayanManal F El-KhadragyDina M Metwally and  Ahmed E Abdel Moneim / BMC Complementary and Alternative MedicineThe official journal of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR) 2014 14:164 / https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-14-164
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In vitro Evaluation of Insecticidal and Antifungal potencies of fruit peel extracts of pomegranate (Punica granatum) / Amel Ben Hamouda , Ikbal Chaieb, Mejda Daami-Remadi and Asma Laarif / Central European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2015, 4 (1):11-15
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Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.) Peel Hydroalcoholic Extract Supplementation Reduces Pain and Improves Clinical Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Study / Maryam Rafraf, Salar Hemmati, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Abdolvahab Moghaddam and Mahdiyeh Khadem Haghighian  / Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2017 ;19(1):e38577 / doi: 10.5812/ircmj.38577.
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Comparative Antioxidant Activity and Total Flavonoid Content of Persian Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cultivars / Mohammad Reza Shams Ardekani, Mannan Hajimahmoodi, * Mohammad Reza Oveisi,  Naficeh Sadeghi, Behrooz Jannat, Ali Mohammad Ranjbar,  Narges Gholam,  and  Tahereh Moridi / Iran J Pharm Res. 2011 Summer; 10(3): 519–524. 
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“Rhetoric to Reality”- Efficacy of Punica Granatum Peel Extract on Oral Candidiasis: An In vitro Study / Preethi Madugula, SuDhakara Reddy, Jyothirmai Koneru, Atla Srinivasa Rao, Rayapureddi Sruthi, Divya Teja Dalli / Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2017 Jan, Vol-11(1): ZC114-ZC117 / DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/22810.9304
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Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Seed Oil for Treating Menopausal Symptoms: An Individually Controlled Cohort Study. 
/ Roman Huber, Richard Gminski, Tang Tao, Tomas Weinert, Sabine Schulz, Margaretaa Linke-Cordes, Ines Martin, Heide Fischer / Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine. Mar/Apr2017, Vol. 23 Issue 2, p28-34. 7p. 3 
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Effects of Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) on Paracetamol Induced Acute Hepatic Damage in Mice / Mehmet Ali Erfidan, Esra Kupeli Akkol, Alper Sevimli, Turan Civelek / Kocatepe Vet J (2016) 9(44): 273 - 280 / DOI: 10.5578/kkvj.228156
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11 Proven Health Benefits of Pomegranate / Irina Radosevic MD / Health•Nutrition / BalanceMeBeautiful
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Pomegranate extract inhibits androgen-independent prostate cancer growth through a nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent mechanism. / Rettig MB, Heber D, An J, Seeram NP, Rao JY, Liu H, Klatte T, Belldegrun A, Moro A, Henning SM, Mo D, Aronson WJ, Pantuck A / Mol Cancer Ther., Sept 2007; 7(9): pp 2662-2671 / doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-08-0136.
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Breast cancer chemopreventive properties of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in a mouse mammary organ culture. / Mehta R, Lansky EP / Eur J Cancer Prev., Aug 2004; 13(4): pp 345-348 / PMID: 15554563
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Potent health effects of pomegranate / Aida Zarfeshany, Sedigheh Asgary, and Shaghayegh Haghjoo Javanmard / Adv Biomed Res. 2014; 3: 100 / doi:  10.4103/2277-9175.129371 / PMID: 24800189
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Punica granatum / World Agro Forestry

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