Pomegranate (Pomegranate Tree)

Pomegranate (Pomegranate Tree)
Punica granatum L.
Punicaceae Family

Description of Pomegranate

Pomegranate deciduous branched shrub tree height 13–33 ft (4–10 m) spherical crown; root brownish woody branched. Bark trunks brown-brown cracked branches thin ash-gray brown-yellow. Shoots angular fine hairs rare yellow lenticels; shortened shoots thorn; branches opposite. Leaves short-petioled (red petioles) opposite elongated branches shortened bundles bare leathery glossy above oblong-lanceolate elliptical length 0.8–3.1 in (2–8 cm) width 0.4–0.8 in (1–2 cm) tapered base blunt-apex lower prominent midrib entire dark-green. Flowers solitary bundles 2–5 short pedicels axils shoot ends large 0.8–2 in (2–5 cm) diameter regular separate petals white red; calyx funnel-bell leathery 5 (6–9) triangular lobes bright-red; petals 5–7 obovate fiery-red rarely white yellowish; stamens numerous throat calyx orange-red filaments yellow anthers; pistil 1 long style thickened stigma; ovary inferior 2 rows locules levels. Fruits false berry-like spherical large 2.4–3.1 in (6–8 cm) cultivated 3.9–7.1 in (10–18 cm) pink dark-purple rarely yellow-olive apex calyx remnants thick tough leathery inedible astringent peel; inside 6–12 locules membranous septa walls pitted seed pressure; locules filled adjacent two rows seeds irregular angular juicy transparent white purple pulp seed coat length 0.55 in (1.4 cm) width 0.31 in (0.8 cm); seeds 400–700. Fruits weight 10.6–24.7 oz (300–700 g). Wild sour astringent. Blooms May–August fruits September–October. Culture sour (Trush-nar) sweet (Shirin-nar) sour-sweet.

 

Distribution and Ecology of Pomegranate

Native mountains Central Asia (Uzbekistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan) Transcaucasia (Azerbaijan Georgia Armenia) Iran Afghanistan North Africa (Tunisia Morocco). Wild dry rocky slopes gorges river valleys thickets. Cultivated subtropics tropics India China Mediterranean (Greece Italy Spain) Middle East USA (California Arizona) Australia South America. Russia Crimea Krasnodar Dagestan. Drained sandy loamy neutral slightly acidic (pH 5.5–7.0). Drought deep roots (9.8–16.4 ft/3–5 m) water flowering fruiting (1–2/week). Optimal 68–86°F (20–30°C); brief -5°F (-15°C) young sensitive. Fruiting 6–8 hours sun. Seeds depth 0.8–1.2 in shoots branches layers grafting seedlings. Varieties ‘Wonderful’ (large sour-sweet) ‘Gulosh’ (sweet) ‘Azerbaijan’ (sour). Care pruning crown potassium-phosphorus pests (codling moth aphids). Prevents erosion attracts pollinators (bees butterflies) self-pollination. Invasive Australia displaces natives.

 

Raw Materials from Pomegranate

Flowers (flores Granati) fruit peel (pericarpium Granati) root trunk branch bark (cortex Granati) leaves juice seeds. Flowers May–August start dry quick 95–104°F (35–40°C) shade dryers. Peel September–October chop sun 104–122°F (40–50°C) ventilated yield 20–25%. Bark spring autumn pruning tubular grooved flat 3.9 in (10 cm) thick 0.04–0.2 in (1–5 mm) outer gray greenish-yellow lenticels inner red-brown wood remnants smooth even fracture odorless strongly astringent bitter (yellow lime water black-blue iron ammonium alum). Root bark thicker flat grooved dark-brown dry 104–122°F yield 15–20%. Leaves June–July 86–95°F (30–35°C) yield 25–30%. Juice fresh cold press fridge 3 days conserve. Seeds 104°F oil. Quality peel bark <5% impurities humidity ≤12% alkaloids bark ≥0.5%. Store flowers peel leaves paper bark wood boxes juice glass dry ≤12%. Shelf flowers 1 year peel leaves 2 bark 3 seeds 2. Check mold insects (weevils).

 

Chemical Composition of Pomegranate

Flowers tannins (<20%) anthocyan punicin (hydrolyzes pelargonidin two glucose). Juice sugars (glucose fructose 2.3–<20% variety) organic acids (citric <10% malic oxalic 0.55–<7.9%) ascorbic (<14 mg%) vitamins (B1 B2 B6 B15 niacin folacin) flavonoids anthocyanins (delphinidin malvidin peonidin glycosides) tannins minerals (phosphorus silicon manganese magnesium calcium copper aluminum chromium nickel). Wild juice 59% cultivated 75%. Root trunk branch bark alkaloids (pelletierine isopelletierine methylisopelletierine n-methylpelletierine-propanone pseudopelletierine 0.5–<1.8% isopelletierine 30–40% total) tannins (<32%). Peel isopelletierine methylisopelletierine (0.5%) pseudopelletierine (<1.8%) ursolic (<0.6%) tannins (<28%) catechins polyphenols pectins. Leaves ursolic (<0.45%) tannins (<10%). Seeds fat oil (<20% ellagic) beta-sitosterin D-mannitol D-maltose triterpenoid friedelin.

 

Uses and Benefits of Pomegranate

Flowers astringent antiseptic poultices inflammatory infiltrates. Infusion fruits flowers hemostatic. Flowers peel decoction astringent antiseptic rinse angina diarrhea dysentery gastritis allergic colitis enterocolitis. Juice fruits avitaminosis post-infection surgery malaria anemia tuberculosis pneumonia hypoacid gastritis poisoning appetite. Fresh peel cough colds. Sour sour-sweet diabetics sweet fever asthma hypertension atherosclerosis kidney gallbladder heart (palpitations). Diluted juice gargle. Syrup hematopoiesis. Root trunk branch bark peel alkaloids (isopelletierine methylisopelletierine 30–40% pseudopelletierine <1.8%) tapeworms paralyze. Seeds edema jaundice appetite. Seed oil hormonal.

 

Precautions for Using Pomegranate

Fruits chronic constipation hemorrhoids anal fissures tannins worsen bleeding defecation. Juice dilute water (1:1) prevent gastric irritation high acidity. Bark preparations doctor toxic alkaloids overdose (>0.4–0.5 g isopelletierine methylisopelletierine) weakness dizziness vision nausea vomiting cramps (calf) pressure collapse respiratory paralysis. Tannins reduce alkaloid toxicity absorption. External peel flowers allergy test tannins irritate skin.

 

Contraindications for Using Pomegranate

Intolerance Punicaceae allergy gastric duodenal ulcers acute high-acid gastritis pancreatitis severe chronic constipation hemorrhoids anal fissures. Root trunk branch bark children under 12 pregnant lactating alkaloid toxicity. Juice large (>16.9 oz/500 ml day) pancreas hyperacid gastritis. External eczema psoriasis deep wounds doctor.

 

Medicinal Recipes with Pomegranate

1. Ju48e tonic. Drink fresh juice 2 oz (60 ml) diluted (1:1) 4 times day 20 min before meals >2 weeks avitaminosis anemia post-op.
   
2. Syrup hematopoiesis. Reduce 6.8 oz (200 ml) juice 3.5 oz (100 g) sugar thick cool. 1 tbsp 2 times day anemia hangover.
   
3. Peel decoction diarrhea stomatitis. 2 tsp chopped peel or 0.7 oz (20 g) with fruits 6.8 oz (200 ml) water boil 15–30 min strain. 1–2 tbsp 2–3 times day 2 days.
   
4. Flowers infusion gargle. 1 tsp dry flowers peel 6.8 oz (200 ml) boiling steep 2 hours strain. Gargle 3–4 times day angina.
   
5. Bark decoction tapeworms. 1.4–1.8 oz (40–50 g) root trunk bark 13.5 oz (400 ml) water steep 6 hours reduce 6.8 oz strain. Drink 6.8 oz 1 hour doctor then 30 min saline laxative (Korean genhamban: 0.7 oz bark decoct ⅓ every 30 min).
   
6. Peel powder chronic diarrhea. Half fruit branch bark roast coals powder. 0.13–0.26 oz (3.75–7.5 g) 2 times day water.
   
7. Compress wounds. 0.7 oz (20 g) dry peel boil 30 min 6.8 oz water strain; or water-glycerin alcohol extract. Wet gauze apply wounds itchy legs 2 times day 15 min.
   

 

Cosmetic Uses of Pomegranate

Antioxidant (flavonoids anthocyanins) astringent (tannins) nourishing (oil vitamins). Juice seed oil hydrate anti-aging peel flowers pores leaves inflammation.

1. Rejuvenating mask. 2 tbsp juice 1 tbsp honey 1 tsp olive. Face 15 min rinse warm. 1–2 week.
   
2. Oily skin toner. 1 tsp chopped peel 3.4 oz (100 ml) boiling steep 1 hour strain. Wipe cotton 1–2 day.
   
3. Body scrub. 2 tbsp ground seeds 1 tbsp sea salt 1 tbsp coconut. Massage 2–3 min rinse warm. Weekly.
   
4. Hair strengthening mask. 1 tbsp juice 1 yolk 1 tbsp seed oil. Roots 20 min shampoo. 1–2 week.
   

 

Culinary Uses of Pomegranate

Dietary appetite digestion. Edible arils. White pink purple seedless (‘Wonderful’ ‘Mollar’) aromatic. Juice beverages syrups punches wines sauces (narsharab) stew meat poultry game dishes (shashlik plov kupaty). Peel pectin confectionery.

1. Narsharab sauce. Reduce 33.8 oz (1 l) juice slow ⅓ pinch salt 1 tsp sugar optional. Cool glass 1 month. Meat fish.
   
2. Pomegranate salad. 3.5 oz (100 g) seeds 1.76 oz (50 g) spinach 1 apple sliced 1 oz (30 g) walnuts dress 1 tbsp olive 1 tsp lemon. Appetizer.
   
3. Syrup desserts. Reduce 6.8 oz (200 ml) juice 3.5 oz (100 g) sugar thick cool. Ice cream baking.
   
4. Meat marinade. 3.4 oz (100 ml) juice 2 tbsp soy 1 tbsp honey 1 garlic. Meat 2–3 hours fry.
   

 

Other Properties of Pomegranate

Bark peel tanning fabrics (yellow black-blue). Wood carpentry. Ornamental gardens bonsai.