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Pomegranate: Ancient Fruit - Modern Medicine
www.uga.edu Photographer: Mark Rieger For some the pomegranate spells ‘Halloween’ and conjures up a picture of children with sticky fingers; for others eating a pomegranate represents a kind of determined Occupational Therapy that is too much like hard work or a labour of love, but when you have read this think again and start juicing. The pomegranate is a richly coloured and delicious ancient and fascinating fruit that deserves some of the attention to which it universally was once accustomed, especially in the light of its modern medicinal values. It has as many facets to it, mythology, legends, folklore, real history, character and use, as it has seeds, which is not an over-statement when one single fruit may contain up to 800 seeds in one ‘apple’. The pomegranate’s aspects cover a wide spectrum and it various facets of power have been celebrated in art, religious texts and literature for millennia. Seductive it has always been as a symbol of love, fertility, health and abundance among many other virtues. It also holds a certain mysticism or spiritual significance for many cultures. Its juice has been metaphorically likened to blood and its apple-like form with a ‘crown’ has poetically and literally been compared to female breasts. In modern terminology the seeds held within the pomegranate’s tough leathery outer-skin (pericarp) are like eggs held within the ovaries of a woman. Pomegranates (Punica granatum: Punicaceae) are documented in the Egyptian papyri, in the Bible’s Old Testament several times as ‘rimmon’1, Greek mythology, Roman history, in the Koran, and were introduced to China from Samarkhand by Chang-kien2 a century and a half before the dawn of Christianity3. It is the ‘tree of life’ in the Garden of Eden, a decoration for priests’ robes and pilasters in the Temple of Solomon, and a regal symbol of Kings and Queens. From Homer to Chaucer and Shakespeare, Raphael to Cezanne, the pomegranate has been extolled in art, architecture, sculpture or the written word. Most experts agree that the pomegranate first appeared in Persia then slowly migrated to India, Northern Africa, China, Europe and the Americas4. It is one of the earliest cultivated fruits. We know that first civilizations of Mesopotamia, in the Tigris-Euphrates River valleys, the Nile River valley and Indus River valley5 had by 3000BC orchards of grapes for wine, olives for oil, figs, dates, almonds and pomegranates, that are on record of Near East agriculture and historical evidence suggests this may have occurred sometime even earlier between 4000-3000BC.6 For historians and horticulturists among you, imagine the marvel of ‘The Hanging Gardens’ of Babylon, a Wonder of the ancient World, where pomegranates feature. Fashioned by Nebuchadnezzar II during his reign (605-562BC) – it was an opulent ‘new city’ created by the shores of the Euphrates containing a multitude of incalculable treasures from Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Palestine and Egypt and all for the love of his wife to assuage her homesick feelings.7 Closer to our times and to the West, in Vindonissa, Switzerland, archaebotany excavations (1996 & 1998) revealed evidence of the exotic pomegranate fruits, of seeds and pericarp, from the Augustan-Claudian period (10BC-0).8 In a village in Menorca, between San Luis and Binibeca Beach, grew one gnarled old and solitary pomegrante tree. It annually struggled to support no more than a handful of flowers and seldom more than one splendid fully developed fruit. But how did this tree of unknown age get there? How did this paragon of the virtues of beauty, culinary and medicinal worth migrate? The clue lay with the Phoenicians, those intrepid and inveterate travelers, who built their empire as rulers of the sea and of overland trade routes. By the 15th century BC Phoenicia, modern day Lebanon, held dominion over business and trade; later still to become the Bankers for businesses and traders of the wider world; they had traded with this Balearic Island. It emerges that the modus operanda of the pomegranate’s migration was due to Arabian caravans bringing jewels and spices from the East and aromatic materials from North African countries and beyond. It is postulated that somewhere along the route traders from India may have introduced the pomegranate fruit to the Arabs. These mobile business transporters not only carried goods for sale, but supplies of water and foodstuffs for the traveling tradesmen. Like other naturally pre-seal-wrapped fruits such as oranges and bananas, pomegranates were ideal traveling fare. Their tannin impregnated leathery outer skin served as a protection for the juicy interior. With a content of up to 85% water the fruit’s ‘arils’, almost translucent deep pink to red, the sumptuous juicy seeds provided both liquid refreshment, as well as vitamins and mineral sustenance, especially for the replacement of those minerals lost to perspiration i.e. chiefly potassium. Pomegranates, were not just considered a portable and potable ‘convenience food and drink’ rolled into one, but the “fruit of Paradise” - truly a gift from the gods. Able to grow in different soils, tolerant of heat, drought and neglect, pomegranate trees were planted and grown to supply travelers wherever caravansaries or Phoenician sea colonies were built.9 The pomegranate’s peripatetic properties were the ‘key’ to it’s far-flung popularity explosion via migration.
With pleasant fruits.” “I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct thee to drink of spiced wine www.homecookingabout.com of the juice of my pomegranate.” (Song of Solomon [KJV] 4:13 & 8:2) Apart from any sexual innuendo between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba’s biblical meeting, it looks like his mother may have known a thing or two about the amazing benefits of pomegranate juice. They had no juicing machines back then, the laborious way to deal with this to avoid sticky fingers was to press the whole fruit until the juices inside expressed from the arils’ flesh, make a hole, then squeeze and suck the juice out directly into the mouth – a very hygienic method. Also known as the Granada, grenade and Chinese apple, tangy, sweet, rich and flavourful, pomegranate ‘garnets’ have a long culinary history and are now commonly grown in Africa, India, Malaysia, southern Europe, and in Arizona and California in the United States with some delightful modern usage.10 Often sprinkled over salads and other foods as an auxiliary or accompaniment, there are more selective recipes to use, such as fresh pomegranate chutney and relish, vinegar, cakes, jelly, syrup and ice-cream11 Grenadine (homemade and not ersatz i.e. pomegranate juice is not used in commercial grenadine syrup anymore, it has been replaced by the corn sweetener and FD&C red dye 40!). There’s even pomegranate infused Vodka! Traditionally, ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as an aphrodisiac and they made wine and liqueur from the juice. Although sweet, pomegranate has a slim low calorie dietary value, being mainly water, high in vitamin C and Potassium with Iron for the blood. It also contains Vitamins B and Calcium. Although not mentioned in the American chart below12 the red ‘colour pigment’ or anthocyanin content13 is anti-carcinogenic. Pomegranate juice and concentrate is available in the US, from makers such as POM Wonderful, who manufacture the first refrigerated fresh pomegranate juice. You can also buy pomegranate juice and jelly in some speciality ethnic shops and on-line in the UK as well as ‘juice’ your own when in season.14 & 15 Where America leads the UK is not far behind, so it is likely that with the recognized health benefits of pomegranate juice our larger Supermarkets will soon stock be stocking it too.
Dietary value, per 100 gram edible portion:
Water (%) …....................................... 79
% of US RDA*
Vitamin A
…........................................ --- · Percent of recommended daily allowance set by FDA, assuming a 154 lb male adult, 2700 calories per day. Pomegranates ancient and traditional health benefit was mainly as an astringent and anti-diarrhoeal remedy, the main emphasis now is on its everyday phytochemical antioxidant power. Scavenging radicals beware! Pomegranate juice is not just an Anti-Ageing beverage. According to Dr Adel A. Kader, Ph.D., an eminent Professor of Postharvest Physiology at the University of California, USA, due to its higher phenols content: “… the total antioxidant capacity of 100ml of pomegranate juice is two to three times that of 100ml of red wine and of green tea!”16 It has also been proven that pomegranate juice consumption by patients in Israel, monitored over a period of three years reduces carotid artery thickness or helps prevent hardening of the arteries, blood pressure and LDL oxidation (‘Bad’ cholesterol or Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), which increases the risk of heart disease, in the same way as too high blood pressure also increases the risk of heart attack. 17 Pomegranate fermented juice and cold-pressed seed oil show strong antioxidant activity that is likely to have anti-inflammatory effects as well. The anthocyanin content is already known to help combat cancer. It’s early days yet, but Indian research shows that pomegranate seeds have potent antimicrobial activities against laboratory test organisms Bacillus subtilis, a common soil bacterium that may cause human conjunctivitis; Escherichia coli or E. coli, often picked up from eating raw undercooked beef e.g. hamburger – resulting in acute diarrhoeal sickness, against which antibiotics have not proven useful and treatment includes the replacement of fluids, another plus ingredient of pomegranate juice i.e. potassium, as well as bumping up the electrolytes with sodium, to prevent dehydration; and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, found in common baker’s yeast. In England, researchers are studying the possibility of developing a virucide from pomegranates as a protective anti-viral agent against HIV. Japanese researchers have recently found a potential for pomegranate fermented juice and pericarp (skin) extracts that may assist leukaemia cells to revert to their normal state and might assist in creating an important non-cytotoxic therapy for leukemia.18 Last month, in Japan they researched pomegranate to aid and improve depressive state and bone properties in the menopausal syndrome in ovarectomized mice, as it contains estrogens, which research may go towards helping women’s menopausal symdrome.19 There are a whole raft of research papers to prove the efficacy of pomegranate juice, extract and seed oil, covering many conditions and illnesses. Perhaps for many the most important may be its potential to aid human cancers, including breast cancer.20 One thing is certain, Pomegranate Juice is definitely good stuff and needs to be incorporated into the diet of modern men and women. A note to gardeners: The first pomegranate planted in Britain was by King Henry VIII. Perhaps the changing British climate may get hot enough, but become too wet to grow pomegranates outdoors, but how about getting them into the conservatory?
COMMENT: Of the 22 trees in the Bible, the pomegranate with four others is included in the Koran. The prophet Muhammad is said to have remarked. “Eat the pomegranate, for it purges the system of envy and hatred.” In these days of conflict, death and destruction it is well to remember Muhammad’s quote. This spiritual and health-giving fruit reached America via the Spanish Conquistadores. The French named their hand-tossed explosive grenade after the seed-scattering properties of the fruit and in 1791 the French military that used them became called grenadiers. In 2004 neither the Iraqis, Islamic fundamentalist militant factions, nor the Coalition Alliance members appear to be eating pomegranates - might not things get better and less full of hatred if they all did one wonders! References: 1. Pomegranate name: Old Testament rimmon – Arabic rumman. 2. Chang-k’ien was a high grade soldier sent out west to learn more about countries and tribes on the Silk Road and to enlist their co-operation against the Huns. He was captured and held for a decade by the Huns (139-127BC) whilst carrying out his secret mission and made his famous Report for the Emperor Vu-tin containing information, contacts and recommendations. He later became the main guide in Chinese politics. 3. www.pomegranateconnection.com 5. Indus Valley Civilization:”… a splendid Civilization spread over a thousand-mile length from the glistening snow-capped mountains of Kashmir to the glittering sand dunes facing the Arabian Sea. …” www.geocites.com 6. www.portergaud.edu/cmcarver/civ.html 7. Baghdad Museum: www.baghdadmuseum.org 8. “Punica granatum L. (pomegranates) from early Roman contexts in Vindonissa (Switzerland)” S. Jacomet. D. Kucan, A. Ritter, (2002) Universität Basel, Switzerland. Vegetation History and ArchaeobotanyVol. 11 Issue 1-2 (2002-6) pp 79-92. 9. ‘Have pomegranate, will travel’ by Chelsie Vandaveer – June 4, 2002 – www.killerplants.com 11. Pomegranate Recipes & Information: www.homecooking.about.com 12. www.uga.edu 13. “Antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice and its relationship with phenolic composition and processing.” Gil MI, et al. Department of Pomology, Uv. of California, Davis, California, USA. J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Oct;48(10):4851-9: ‘… In addition, anthocyanins, ellagic acid derivatives, and hydolyzable tannins were detected and quantified in the pomegranate juices.’ 14. www.ivillage.co.uk Plus pomegranate ice-cream recipe. 15. Pomegranate juice: www.thenaturalhealthsource.com 16. Dr Adel A Kader, Ph.D., Professor of Postharvest Physiology, Department of Pomology at the University of California USA, www.wholehealthmd.com “Antioxidant and eicosanoid enzyme inhibition properties of pomegranate seed oil and fermented juice flavonoids,” Schubert SY, Lansky EP, Neeman I, Laboratories of Food Engineering and Biotecnholody, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. J Ethnopharmacol, 1999 Jul;66(1):11-7. 17. “Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation.”Avrim M, et al. the Lipid Research Lab. Rappaport Family Institute for Research in Medical Sciences, Tambam Medical Centre, Haifa, Israel. Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33. 18. “differentiation-promoting activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.” Kawaii S, Lansky EP. Lab. Of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Tokyo Keni Uv., Saitama, Japan. J. Med Food. 2004 Spring;7(1):13-8. 19. “Pomegranate extract improves a depressive state and bone properties s in menopausal syndrome model ovarectomized mice.” Mori-Okamoto J., et al. School of Health and Social Services, Saitama Prefectural Uv., Saitama, Japan. J Ethopharmacol. 2004 Mayu;92(1):93-101. 20. “Chemoproventive and adjuvant therapeutic potential of pomegranate (punica granatum) for human breast cancer.” Kim ND, et al. Department of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Korea. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2002 Feb;71(3):203-17. |
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