The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is steeped in magical history and folklore and has a diverse collection of medicinal, nutritional and cosmetic uses. Over the centuries it has been regarded as magical, mystical and healing. Its botanical name, Punica granatum, is derived from "pomuni granatum" (seeded apple), the name given to the fruit in the Middle Ages. In Middle Eastern folklore and poetry, the pomegranate is a symbol for the female breast or for her beloved lips, which are compared to its colour.

In Greek mythology, Hades, the god of the Underworld, abducted Persephone and took her below. Her mother Demeter grieved the world into famine as a result and Zeus was compelled to intervene. He demanded Hades return Persephone to world above but a condition was that she ate no food in the interim. To quench her thirst, she ate six pomegranate seeds, so a compromise was made. She would return to earth for six months each year and spend the other six with Hades in the Underworld. Demeter provided the seasons to correspond to this: summer and winter.

In Hebrew mythology the juice of the pomegranate was made into wine: "I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice" (Song of Solomon 8:2). Also in Solomon, the beauty of the pomegranate fruit is often likened to the beauty of a woman: "Thy temples are like a piece of pomegranate" (Song of Solomon 4:3, 6:7). A picture of the fruit also appeared on the pillars of Solomon's Temple. In Judaism, the pomegranate is a symbol of fertility, relating to the first commandment of the Torah, to be fruitful and multiply. The pomegranate, together with bells, was embroidered in many colours on the skirts of Aaron's garments. (Exodus 28:33, 39:24-26, Ecclesiasticus 45:9).

In the Song of Songs, Sheba proclaims: "Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my love." And she asks him to drink "the spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate". Solomon in return describes Sheba as a garden whose "plants are an orchard of pomegranates".

The pomegranate's long association with death and rebirth led to it being adopted as a Christian symbol of the resurrection. The pomegranate tree is a tree characteristic of Palestine and pomegranates are mentioned as one of the fruits the Israelites missed in the wilderness (Numbers 20:5). The Promised Land was also to be one of "wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates. A land of oil, olive and honey." (Deuteronomy 8:8).

Islamic tradition relates that the Prophet Muhammad (pboh) was asked about pomegranates, to which he replied "There is not a pomegranate which does not have a pip from one of the pomegranates of the Garden in it". Another Islamic hadith relates "No pomegranate grows ripe without being watered by a drop of the water of the Garden." (As-Suyuti)

The pomegranate is native to the area between Iran and northern India and the surrounding areas. It was also cultivated in ancient Greece and then spread eastwards towards India and China, and westwards towards the
Mediterranean, flourishing particularly well in Spain. Henry VIII has been credited with being the first person to plant a pomegranate tree in Britain but many believe it was in fact one of his wives, Catherine of Aragon, who introduced it to Britain. Her royal coat of arms and England's heraldry bear a pomegranate insignia.

In America, California produces around 17,000 Mega Tonnes of pomegranates annually, cultivated on around 1200 hectares. (Mark) Pomegranates are perennial, belonging to the Punicaceae family and grow naturally as a bushy shrub or as a small tree and if trained can grow up to 6 meters high. They are deciduous in inland and desert regions but may lose a portion of their leaves in winter in coastal areas. Pomegranates are fairly drought tolerant and can be grown on either calcareous or acid soil. Although the tree is quite resistant to cold, it is very sensitive to frost. It grows best in dry climates with mild winters. The pomegranate is long lived compared to other fruit trees, with some reportedly being over 200 years old.

Its brilliant orange-red, or sometimes white flowers are axillary, solitary, or borne in small clusters of two or three, towards the ends of the branchlets and have between five to seven crumpled, membranous petals. The ovary is roundish and inferior. Its leaves are opposite, entire, smooth, glossy, thick, oblong, inclining to lanceolate, with no marginal vein and 2.5 - 7.5 cm long and almost evergreen. The fruit is a large pericarp; the size of an orange, with thick reddish-yellow rind, short necked at the top with an acid pulp or membrane. The edible interior divides by membranes into 6-12 irregular cells, each of which is filled with numerous angular seeds, covered with a bright red, succulent, acrid coat and fastened to a yellowish inner wall. The seeds are edible, watery and have an extremely refreshing and pleasant flavour. Pollination of the pomegranate is by insects or humming birds and cross-pollination can improve the fruit set.

The bark of the pomegranate tree is wrinkled, yellowish-brown with patches. It is very astringent and unpleasant to taste owing to the large quantity of tannin present. The bark of the root contains 20-22 per cent of a tannic acid called punicotannic acid. This results in the astringency of the root and the aqueous infusion yields a dark-blue colour or precipitate with ferric salts. There are several alkaloids in the root-bark, the most
prominent of which is pelletierine. This has been shown to possess anthelmintic properties. When chewed, it tinges the saliva yellow. Its infusion produces a deep blue precipitate with iron salts. Poisonous symptoms from the absorption of pelletierine have occurred; they consist of giddiness, confusion of thought, and great muscular weakness.

The amount of alkaloids in the root-bark seems to vary according to the variety of flowers, the white flowering variety, occurring in Java, yielding as much as 3.75 per cent of hydrochlorids of total alkaloids. In France, the bark of the wild variety is considered more active than the cultivated plant and the fresh is considered more active than the dried. The bark also contains mannite and a yellow colouring matter. A yellow stain is produced if the inner surface of the root-bark is moistened with water and rubbed on paper. In ancient times, the bright red juice was also often used as ink. The rind of the fruit also contains a considerable amount of tannic acid, about 19 per cent. It is believed that the rind of the fruit of the wild pomegranate is more astringent than that of the cultivated.

The bark is used mainly to expel tapeworm, but as it is not purgative, its use as a vermifuge needs to be preceded and followed by a brisk purge with as castor oil.  Ellagic acid is also found in pomegranates. Ellagic acid is reputed to reduce heart disease, birth defects and liver fibrosis and to promote wound healing. Several of these claims are being currently investigated as well as the more striking claim that ellagic acid can inhibit the growth of certain cancerous tumours. Ellagic acid has been shown to inhibit cancerous growth of tumours in animals and a similar study in humans is underway at South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center (American Cancer Society). Other animal studies have shown ellagic acid to protect against chromosome damage during radiation therapy. (Rimonest). Ellagic acid can be obtained as a supplement, but it has not been tested and verified as safe in this form. On the other hand, eating those fruits rich in ellagic acid, such as raspberries, strawberries, cranberries and pomegranates, is safe and intake can be easily controlled.

Pomegranate rind is powerfully astringent, hard, granular, brownish-yellow or reddish in colour, and about 1.5 millimetres thick. The rind of the fruit is separated from the seeds and dried to use for medicinal purposes.
It is administered in the form of decoction in diarrhoea and dysentery, and as an injection in leucorrhoea. An infusion of rind will also produce an abundant dark-bluish precipitate with iron salts. The pomegranate is one of the oldest herbs to be used medicinally.

In the ancient Egyptian Eber's papyrus a description can be found of its use "to drive away the worm" by using "an infusion of the rind of pomegranate". (Lloyd p.7). Later, Constantinus Africanus, a renowned physician of the Salerno school is quoted as saying "Boil the peelings of pomegranate in wine and drink this potion; it will kill all the worms" because, he explains, "it is the peculiar property and nature of the pomegranate to kill worms". (Lloyd p.7). Culpepper refers to the pomegranate and states that "a strong infusion cures ulcers in the mouth and throat and fastens teeth" (Potterton p. 148).  He explains that as both the flowers and the rind are strongly astringent, a decoction of them stops bleeding. The rind also cures diarrhoea and dysentery and used as a vaginal douche it cures leucorrhoea.  Pomegranate extract has shown to have a variety of beneficial functions, including antioxidant and anti-viral activity.

In 1996, a University of Nottingham research team in Pennsylvania U.S.A. discovered that pomegranate extract could destroy several viruses practically on contact. The discovery of this anti-viral activity created further experimentation and clinical trials.  Studies have also confirmed that the ellagic acid from pomegranate extract effectively protects cells from damaging free radicals. Additional phenolic compounds found in pomegranate, anthocyanidins (also well-known scavengers of free radicals) combine synergistically with ellagic acid to greatly increase pomegranate's potency as an antioxidant.  Pomegranate seed oil contains over 60% punicic acid, a special type of conjugated linoleic acid. It also contains several other rare phytochemicals including gamma-tocopherol, sterols and the oestrogens and 17-alpha oestradiol (Rimonest). Pomegranate juice is rich in tannins and possesses anti-atherosclerotic properties, which could be related to its potent anti-oxidative characteristics. Some antioxidants have recently been  shown to reduce blood pressure.

Pomegranate has also been used as an anti-viral treatment and to treat: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, diarrhoea, gastro intestinal problems, leukaemia, sore throats, stomach ulcers and stomatis and as an alternative to HRT.

As the flowers and rind are astringent, pomegranate has been used successfully in western medicine in the past for arresting mucous discharge, passive haemorrhage, night sweating and diarrhoea and is still frequently used in the East. In India the root of the pomegranate tree has been used against tapeworm with great success. The pomegranate contains an abundance of flavonoids. These protect the heart and research has shown that pomegranate juice slows down the damage caused by cholesterol, reduces blood pressure and more than doubles the levels of antioxidants in the blood. (Mason). An expert at the William Harvey Research Institute suggests that one glass of pomegranate juice is equivalent to 2 glasses of red wine or 10 of green tea in respect to flavonoid intake. Furthermore, the fruit contains folic acid and is therefore useful during pregnancy for the protection of the baby. (Mason)

Miller (Potter p.243) suggests that pomegranate is a successful remedy for strengthening gums and fastening loose teeth. He also states that it is useful in treating ulcers. The pomegranate can be prepared for use in several ways. A decoction can be made from the bark, with root bark being three times stronger than stem bark in alkaloids. A fluid extract or infusion can be made from the fruit, rind or flowers. The herb can be used
fresh or dried and in powdered form or as a tincture. Pomegranate is potent in its actions and should be used sparingly, given in small doses.  Suggested doses are as follows:

The calorific value of the edible part of the pomegranate is around 70 k. calories per 100 g.  An outline of the dietary value per 100 g as a percentage is as follows:

Based on an adult male weighing 70 kg and consuming 2700 k. calories per day, the following show the percentage of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and mineral present:

Pomegranates are mainly used for culinary purposes of course. Either the soft red seeds are scooped out and served to eat as they are, or they are used in cooking or juiced. In the Middle East pomegranate seeds are made into syrups and thick pastes to be used in local dishes. The pomegranate has quite a long shelf life at room temperature and in the past was often carried on long journeys through the desert as liquid refreshment and food.  Grenadine was also traditionally made from a base of pomegranate syrup, although this is no longer the case, with pomegranate being substituted by maize syrup and chemical red dyes. Unfortunately, to many, the pomegranate remains nothing more than an ornamental decoration to place in a fruit bowl around the Christmas period, its hidden medicinal values remaining hidden.

Bibliography

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Lansky, E.P. Organic cold pressed pomegranate seed oil.
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