Pomegranate is a tree that has been used for thousands of years. It is in Greek, Hebrew, Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian mythology and writings. It is described in records dating from around 1500 BC as a treatment for tapeworm and other parasites.
Many cultures use pomegranate as a folk medicine. Pomegranate is native to Iran. It is primarily cultivated in Mediterranean counties, parts of the United States, Afghanistan, Russia, India, China, and Japan.
A shrub or small tree growing 5 to 10 m high, the pomegranate has multiple spiny branches and is extremely long-lived. P. granatum leaves are opposite or sub opposite, glossy, narrow oblong, entire, 3–7 cm long and 2 cm broad. The flowers are bright red and 3 cm in diameter, with three to seven petals. Some fruitless varieties are grown for the flowers alone.
Pomegranate contains a variety of chemicals that might have antioxidant effects. Some preliminary research suggests that chemicals in pomegranate juice might slow the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and possibly fight cancer cells. But it is not known if pomegranate has these effects when people drink the juice.
Arils contain 85% water, 10% total sugars, mainly fructose and glucose, and 1.5% pectin, organic acid, such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, and malic acid, and bioactive compounds such as phenolics and flavonoids, principally anthocyanins. Pomegranate seed oil contains biological active compounds like punicic acid (PA), a conjugated isomer of α-linolenic acid, sterols, fatty-acids.
Various parts of the tree and fruit are used to make medicine. People use pomegranate for conditions such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), heart conditions, high blood pressure, athletic performance, and recovery after exercise, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.