Allah’s Medicine Chest: Pomegranate (Punica Granatum)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Pomegranate (Punica Granatum)

By Hwaa Irfan

The pomegranate is one fruit that is been placed in a class of its own when it comes to the plant kingdom: Granateae or Punicaceae under the umbrella of Lythraceae.

{In them will be Fruits, and dates, and pomegranates: Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?} (Ar-Rahman – 68-69).

The manifold attributes to mankind of the pomegranate is referred to in the Sunnah as follows: 

“…Then the earth would be told to bring forth its fruit and restore its blessing and, as a result thereof, there would grow (such a big) pomegranate that a group of persons would be able to eat that, and seek shelter under its skin…” (Muslims 41: # 7015)

In the Qur’an, pomegranate is included as part of the abundance that sustains us (An-Anaam 6: 99). The drought tolerant, low growing tree is native to Persia. As the oldest known edible fruit, other names for pomegranate in English include: Chinese apple. In Arabic, it’s called rowman, in Armenian, nur, in Bengali, Anar/Bedana, in Cantonese Ngon sehk lau, in German granatapfel, in Greek Rodi, in Indonesia Delima, in Polish Granat,  in Portuguese, Roma, and in Spanish Granada.

The pomegranate is now grown widely in Asia, Mediterranean countries, China, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, but is mainly exported by Turkey and Spain. This self pollinating fruit, which is also pollinated by insects, grows to about 15 feet in height. Mainly propagated through soft and hardwood cuttings, the buds and shoots are red in color, and the evergreen leaves are thick and glossy, bearing crimson colored flowers, which have been used to produce a red dye. The small tree takes care of itself requiring little pruning, yet, is able to produce without fail many fruits 4 years after planting, and 7 months after flowering. In season from September through to November, the tree requires long hot summers, but is fairly adaptive. The fruit is about the size of an orange with a thick yellow to red colored rind. The pulp is acidic, but holds many seeds.

There are three kinds of pomegranates: sour, which is sometimes used for unripe grape juice, sweet, and very sweet. Fruits that produce hard seeds may not be very good for eating, but they produce more juice. 

Chemical Properties

 From the root to the leaves contain valuable properties including:

• Punicotannic acid(bark)
• Gallic acid (bark)
• Mannite (bark)
• Pelletierine alkaloid (bark)
• Methyl-Pelletierine alkaloid(bark)
• Pseudo-Pelletierine alkaloid (bark)
• IsoPelletierine alkaloid (bark)
• N-Methyliopelletierine
• Ellagitannins
• Pelargonidin
• Punicalin
• Punicalagin
• Anthocyanins
• Cyanin
• Ellagic acid

Pomegranate contains many antioxidant properties like ellagic acid, which is a proven anticarcinogen, and is effective against fibrosis. Ellagic acid is also affective in the suppression of Ultra-violet induced skin pigmentation both orally and topically as proven by the study of Mineka Yoshimura and colleagues. 

At the Kingston University in London, U.K., The rind of the pomegranate has been used to make a powerful ointment that is able to treat the growing problem in hospitals of drug resistant microbes like the bacteria methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus by adding Vitamin C. and metal salts.

Another antioxidant is cyanin, which is responsible for the color of the pomegranate. Cyanins are antricarcinogen, maintain vascular health, are anti-inflammatory. A recent study published by the American Society of Nephrology by an Israelis team Ronit Geron et al, found that patients with kidney disease who drank pomegranate juice three times a week for a year before each dialysis session had reduced inflammation of the kidneys, free radicals were reduced, and were less likely to be hospitalized. The patients also had reduced blood pressure, and fewer cardio-vascular episodes. 

The therapeutic qualities include the following: (see It All Makes Good Scents  for definitions)

• Anticarcinogen
• Anthelmintic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Astringent
• Cordial
• Demulcent
• Purgative
• Vermifuge

The seeds act as a demulcent. The fruit is a mild astringent and refrigerant in some fevers particularly in respect of biliousness. As an astringent it is also affective against diarrhea. The bark has been used to remove tapeworm as an anthelmintic, which results in nausea, and vomiting as a purgative. In India, the rind is used for diarrhea, and chronic dysentry.

Pomegranate juice has been used in the treatment of dyspepsia, and leprosy, and the dried, pulverized flowers have been used to treat bronchitis. In Mexico, a decoction of the flowers has been used as a gargle to treat oral and throat infections. 

In Saudi Arabia, the powdered peel of the pomegranate rind is used to treat burns, and infected cuts and wounds, as a decoction the rind is used for sore throats, stomach aches and indigestion.

Nutritional Content

• Dietary fiber
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Thiamin
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Folate
• Choline
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Omega-6 fatty acids

The juice of the fruit has become a popular health drink in the U.S. being high in Vitamins C and K, folate, and choline, but most of the nutritional properties are actually in the rind of the fruit.

Recipes

The fruits are used for desserts in the Middle East – in Syria, it is sprinkled with sugar and rosewater.

Juice provides a cooling drink. Enjoyed as a fruit juice in Iran, the pulp sacs are removed from the fruit, and put through a basket press or quartered then crushed, and then strained for the juice. Sweetened to taste, sodium benzoate might be added to preserve the stored pomegranate juice. In South Carolina, pomegranate jelly is a favorite, which is made by adding 7 x ½ cups of sugar, and 1 bottle of liquid pectin to 4 cups of pomegranate juice.

The tannin, which is a carcinogenic, has been used to cure leather a yellow color in Morocco. 

In balance He gave us everything we needed, but as for what we want!

Sources:

American Society of Nephrology (2010, November 19). Pomegranate juice reduces damage to tissues, inflammation and infections, study suggests. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/11/101119083126.htm

Hoffman, D. “The Holistic Herbal.” Element Books, U.S.  1988.

“More Medicinal Uses for Pomegranate.” http://www.drugs.com/news/more-medicinal-uses-pomegranate-21597.html

“Pomegranate.” http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pomegr60.html

“Pomegranate.” http://www.phytochemicals.info/plants/pomegranate.php

“Pomegranate.” http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Puni_gra.html

“Pomegranate, Raw.”  http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2038/2

Tous, J and Ferguson, L. “Mediterranean Fruits.” http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-416.html#Pomegranate

Series:

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Lemons 

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Garlic

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Oranges

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Almonds

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Shea Butter

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Turmeric (Curcuma Longa)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Strawberries (Fragaria vesca)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Dates (Phoenix dactylifera)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Figs (Ficus Carica)

Allah’s Medicine Chest: Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare)