Like apples, pomegranates are native to the steppes and high plain regions of Western Asia and are now grown all over the world. The small tree or shrub, Punica granatum L., produces leathery-skinned fruits with little seeds, each surrounded by a juicy pulp. Originally consumed in the Middle East, pomegranate juice is now a popular beverage and ingredient in drinks and dishes. A tonic and general remedy in its native land, pomegranate juice drew attention from modern science, and is now proving just how useful it can be.
Pomegranate Juice Nutrition Facts
When compared to the more familiar cranberry juice, pomegranate has a few surprises. With 27 grams of calcium in one cup (not added, but natural), it is much higher than cranberry's 8 grams. And 27 grams of phosphorous beats cranberry's 3 grams per cup. But the amount of potassium (vital for cardiovascular health and balancing sodium in the blood) in a cup of pomegranate is a whopping 533 grams to cranberry's 35. And compared to cranberry's trace amounts of folates and choline (essential for skin, eye, and nerve health), pomegranate packs 60 grams of folate and 12 grams of choline. It is also an important source of Vitamin K (which forms protein and assists in blood's ability to clot) at 25.9 grams.
Current Pharmacological Research on Pomegranate Juice
In addition to some important nutrition, the wide array of chemical plant compounds in pomegranate have shown great promise for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and even antimalarial properties. In 2002 at UC Berkley, a study confirmed that pomegranate's anthocyanadins contribute to powerful free radical scavenging activities against cell oxidation and in 2007, at the University of Mississippi, pomegranate's tannic and various other plant acids were found to have positive antioxidant properties, and a negative effect on the growth of a number of bacterial and fungal infections. They also boost the immune system's natural ability to combat malaria. This research was further augmented by findings in 2009 with a Dutch study on the phenolic and flavonoid compounds in pomegranate that found them effective against "food-borne diseases such as listeriosis and diseases caused by the emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus)" which are "globally recognized as environmental hazards to the food supply and human health."
Heart Healthy Pomegranate
In October, 2009, a new study at Touro University in California continued research on the ability of pomegranate juice to affect lipid profiles for the better, showing that its polyphenols increased the secretion of a key HDL (good cholesterol) enzyme (see Beyond the Antioxidant Properties; Atherosclerosis ref.). Another study published in 2010 in "Cardiology for the Young" looked at consumption of antioxidant juices and their positive effects on metabolic syndrome, which the American Heart Association labels as a growing problem with cardiovascular and blood pressure concerns in the young. For more on this, see the AHA's website in resources below.
Pomegranate as a Weapon Against Cancer and Arthritis
Perhaps the most promising research comes from a study in 2009 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison which found that "oral consumption of pomegranate extract inhibited growth of lung, skin, colon and prostate tumors." And according to a separate study in 2010 at the The University of Mississippi found, pomegranate's tannins "curtail the risk of colon cancer development."
The anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate were lauded in 2008, in a Case Western Reserve University study titled, "Consumption of hydrolyzable tannins-rich pomegranate extract suppresses inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis." Based on this and other studies, new research grants at NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a branch of the NIH or National Institute of Heatlh) have been awarded to conduct studies on pomegranate juice and arthritis.
References
- Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products: Pomegranate Botanical Description
- USDA Food Composition Database: Pomegranate Juice
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Antioxidant activities of pomegranate fruit extract and its anthocyanidins: delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin; Noda Y, Kaneyuki T, Mori A, Packer L; 2002.
- "Planta Medica"; Antioxidant, antimalarial and antimicrobial activities of tannin-rich fractions, ellagitannins and phenolic acids from Punica granatum L.; Reddy MK, Gupta SK, Jacob MR, Khan SI, Ferreira D.;2007.
- "International Journal of Food Microbiology"; Antimicrobial activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit peels; N S Al-Zoreky; 2009.
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