Punica granatum L.
Vernacular name: Pomegranate, Anar (Hindi: अनार)
Species Name: Punica granatum L.
Family: Lythraceae
Habit: Deciduous large shrub or small tree
Stem: Multi-stemmed thorny 3-7 m tall, reddish-brown peeling bark, suckering habit.
Leaf: Opposite/subopposite glossy lanceolate 3-7×1-2 cm, entire, reddish when young.
Flowering: Throughout warm season
Flowers: Terminal solitary or cymose 3-4 cm diameter; calyx 5-8 persistent red sepals, same number crumpled orange-red petals, numerous stamens (anthers yellow), semi-inferior ovary many-carpellate.
Fruit: Globose berry 5-12 cm diameter, leathery red/yellow rind, hundreds of juicy red arils surrounding hard seeds.
Uses:
- It is an ancient superfruit whose pulp can be eaten raw or added to salads or used to make juice jam, candies, jellies and grenadine syrup base (pomegranate molasses).
- It is an ornamental hedge. Fruit rind is used to extract a red dye.
- It is a Biblical or symbolic fruit and known in Persephone myth. In Ayurveda, used as “Dadima” heart tonic.
- Pomegranates help to protect cells from free-radical damage and reduce chronic inflammations as it contains punicalagins and punicic acids that have strong antioxidant properties.
- Juice consumption can help with managing blood pressure and cardiovascular health by reducing arterial plaque.
- Bark, roots and dried fruit peals (rind0 have astringent properties and used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites and help with blood purification, respiratory issues and hormones regulations.
- Fruit peels have antibacterial properties and used to make tooth powders like formulation to help with dental plaque, bleeding gums and gingivitis and wound healing when applied externally.
- Seed oil is rich in vitamins C and K and have strong antioxidant, skin regeneration and photoprotective properties making it useful in preparation of anti-aging serums, moisturizers and hair care products in cosmetic and skin care industries.
