Pomegranate

Pomegranate belongs to the natural order of myrtaceae. This tree grows in asia and africa, and in warm countries generally. It yields a pleasantly acid and sweetish fruit, which is used for the same purpose as the orange.

The flowers, the rind of the fruit, and the bark of the root, have been used in medicine, as astringents. The bark is powerfully astringent, and is employed, in decoction, as a gargle for sore throats. It is also given in diarrhea, and as an injection in leucorrhoea, and the powder in intermittent fever; close 20 grains. The natives of india give it as a vermifuge. The bark of the root is reckoned a powerful remedy for tapeaworm.

Pomegranate fruit is one of the most popular, nutritionally rich fruit with unique flavor, taste, and heath promoting characteristics. Along with sub-arctic pigmented berries and some tropical exotics such as mango,ait too has novel qualities of functional foods, often called as asuper fruits.a botanically, it is a small size fruit-bearing deciduous tree belonging within thealythraceae family, of genus: punica.

The fruit is thought to originate in the sub-himalayan range of north india. Pomegranate tree grows to about five and eight meters tall. It is cultivated at a commercial scale in vast regions across indian sub-continent, iran, caucuses, and mediterranean regions for its fruits. Completely grown-up tree bears numerous spherical, bright red, purple, or orange-yellow colored fruits depending on the cultivar types. Each fruit measures about 6-10 cm in diameter and weighs about 200 gm. Its tough outer skin (rind) features leathery texture. Interior of the fruit is separated by white, thin, spongy, membranous, bitter tissue into discreet compartments. Such sections, packed as sacs, filled with tiny edible sweet, juicy, pink pulp encasing around a single, angular, soft or hard (in case of over mature fruits) seed.

It is a good source of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, providing about 4 g per 100 g (about 12% of rda), which aid in smooth digestion and bowel movements.athe fruit is suggested by nutritionists in the diet for weight reduction and cholesterol controlling programs. Regular inclusion of fruits in the diets boosts immunity, improves circulation, and offers protection from cancers.

Certain ellagitannin compounds such as granatin b, and punicalagin are found abundantly in the pomegranate juice. Studies suggest that punicalagin and tannins are effective in reducing heart-disease risk factors by scavenging harmful free radicals from the human body.

Total antioxidant strength of pomegranate fruit measured in terms of its oxygen radical absorbance capacity (orac) is 2341 amol te/100 g.

The fruit is an also good source of antioxidant vitamin-c, provides about 17% per 100 g of daily requirement. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin c helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents by boosting immunity.

Regular consumption of pomegranate has also been found to be effective against prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph), diabetes, and lymphoma.

Further, it is an also good source of many vital b-complex groups of vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin b-5), folates, pyridoxine and vitamin k, and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, and manganese.

Dr. Christian says, "it seems scarcely ever to fail, if properly used."-steep 2 ounces of the fresh bark in 2 pints of water for 12 hours; then boil down to 1 pint, strain, and give a wine-glassful every two hours till the whole is taken. Sometimes joints of the worm come in less than an hour after the last dose; but often the doses must be repeated several successive mornings before the effect is complete; and it is right to repeat occasionally for 4 or 5 days after joints have ceased to come away. Laxatives should be administered from time to time.