Edible Parts Of A Pomegranate

Pomegranates are native to the region between Iran and North India, and possess a fascinating history bound up with myth and ancient medicines. The seeds are the edible part of the fruit, and can be eaten out of hand or juiced, according to Purdue University's horticultural website. Grenadine, the crimson pomegranate syrup that colors maraschino cherries and cocktails, is named after the French word for the fruit, or "grenade." Laboratory studies have established pomegranate's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Botanical Facts

The pomegranate fruit grows on a small tree, usually less than 30 feet in height. Pomegranate trees can have very long lives, and Purdue University notes that some of the trees in the famous gardens at Versailles, France, are more than 200 years old. After the tree blooms with spectacular red flowers, the fruit appears with its leathery red skin and membranous sections crowded with jewel-like, ruby-colored juice sacs. Within each tiny sac lies a tart and crunchy edible seed.

Nutrition

Pomegranates are abundant in potassium, fiber, vitamin C and several polyphenols, including tannins, ellagic acid and anthocyanins. Polyphenols are antioxidants that are common to fruits and vegetables. Pomegranates, however, have an especially high content of polyphenols, making them an important source of antioxidants, compounds that search out and neutralize potentially damaging free radicals in the body, notes phytopharmacologist Robert A. Newman, Ph.D., author of the 2007 book, "Pomegranate: The Most Medicinal Fruit."

Cancer

Laboratory studies have revealed that the fruit may also have a role in cancer prevention. An article in the November 2009 edition of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" reports that pomegranate juice, oil and peel have exhibited anti-cancer effects. These include interfering with the replication of tumor cells and stopping the formation of blood vessels that nourish tumors. E.P. Lansky, Ph.D., the article's lead author, concluded that these findings suggest that pomegranate may have a potential clinical role in preventing and treating cancer. Consult a doctor before using herbal remedies to treat cancer.

Other Health Conditions

Each part of the pomegranate plant, such as the root, leaves, bark, seeds and fruit, has therapeutic potential. Lansky proposes that the anti-inflammatory actions of pomegranate may prove to be effective against diseases caused in part by inflammation. While the peels and juice are high in antioxidants, the juice, peel and oil are slightly estrogenic, according to "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." Pomegranates, therefore, may be useful in treating symptoms of menopause, notes Lansky. Seek advice from a health practitioner before using pomegranate medicinally.