Journal of Academia and Industrial Resear
Volume 5, Issue 9 February 2017
©Youth Education and Research Trust (YERT
Punica granatum: A Review on
Dept. of Biochemistry, Sacred Heart C
aru
_________________________________
Our world is rich in herbal plants and
product consists of herbs and every
has been carried out either to charac
the compounds responsible for thos
and attributed overall positive healt
plants used in traditional medical tr
cure diseases or relieve pain. Pome
and fruit. The name ‘‘pomegranate
‘‘grainy apple.’’ The generic name P
regarding its origin. The pomegranat
found in many ancient human cultu
culture has always been restricted a
a long, hot and dry season in order
central Asia, but since the pomeg
conditions, it is grown in many diffe
California. Recent scientific findings
and indicate that pomegranate tissue
that are antimicrobial, reduce blood p
These findings have led to a high
particularly in the western world, and
juice. This review provides informatio
Keywords: Pomegranate, Punica gr
Introduction
Pomegranate, Punica granatum L.,
well-known by ancient civilisations and
of its medicinal properties (Fig. 1). P
considered one of the oldest known ed
mentioned in the Bible, the Koran, the Je
the Babylonian Talmud as ‘Food of G
symbolic of abundance, fertility and pro
et al., 2000; Seeram et al., 2006). It was
in ancient Greek mythology and Chin
adepts. For thousands of years, many
believed that pomegranate have benef
health, fertility, longevity and rebirth (
2010). The pomegranate is the predomi
two species comprising the Punicace
genus name Punica, was the Roman nam
where the best pomegranates were k
Pomegranate literally translates to seed
apple ("ponium") (Jurenka, 2008). This
the Middle East, Centre of origin IV of
includes interior of Asia Minor, all of Tran
and the highlands of Turkmenistan (Vavil
REVIEW
rch (JAIR)
T) jairjp.com
n Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and An
A. Jayaprakash
College (Autonomous), Tirupattur-635601, Vellore
uljaypee@gmail.com; +91 9841378323
_______________________________________
Abstract
d it is impossible for mankind to survive without t
y plant has some medicinal effects. In recent ye
cterize some amazing properties of plant materia
se activities. The practice of Ayurvedic medicine
th for many years. The Indian subcontinent has
reatments. These plants contain different bioact
egranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is an
e’’ follows the Latin name of the fruit Malum g
Punica refers to Pheonicia (Carthage) as a result
te and its usage are deeply embedded in human
ures as food and as a medical remedy. Despite
and generally considered as a minor crop. The po
r to produce good yield of high-quality fruit. Pom
granate tree is highly adaptive to a wide rang
erent geographical regions including the Mediterr
s corroborate traditional usage of the pomegrana
es of the fruit, flowers, bark, and leaves contain b
pressure, and act against serious diseases such
her awareness of the public to the benefits of
d consequently to a prominent increase in the con
on about its phytochemicals, antioxidant and antim
ranatum, phytochemicals, antioxidant, antimicrob
is a fruit tree
lauded because
Pomegranate is
dible fruit that is
ewish Torah, and
Gods’ where is
osperity (Aviram
s also mentioned
nese alchemical
y cultures have
ficial effects on
(Dahham et al.,
inant member of
eae family. The
me for Carthage,
known to grow.
ded ("granatus")
tree is native of
f Vavilov, which
nscaucasia, Iran,
ov, 1951).
Fig. 1. Punica granatu
132
Jayaprakash, 2017
ISSN: 2278-5213
ntimicrobial Properties
e District, Tamil Nadu, India
________________________
the help of plants, every
ears, intensive research
als to isolate and identify
has alleviated illnesses
s a rich flora of various
tive ingredients used to
n ancient, beloved plant
granatum, which means
of mistaken assumption
history, and utilization is
e this fact, pomegranate
omegranate tree requires
megranates are native to
ge of climates and soil
ranean basin, Asia, and
ate as a medical remedy
bioactive phytochemicals
as diabetes and cancer.
the pomegranate fruit,
nsumption of its fruit and
microbial properties.
bial.
um in its natural habitat.