Pomegranate
Background
The pomegranate fruit has a leathery rind (or husk) with many little
pockets of edible seeds and juice inside.
Since ancient times, the pomegranate has been a symbol
of fertility.
Researchers
have studied all parts of the pomegranate for their potential health
benefits. Those parts include the fruit, seed, seed oil, tannin-rich
peel, root, leaf, and flower.
The pomegranate has been used as
a dietary supplement for many conditions including wounds, heart
conditions, intestinal problems, and as a gargle for a
sore throat.
Pomegranate is made into capsules, extracts, teas, powders, and
juice products.
How Much Do We Know?
We don’t have a lot of strong scientific evidence on the effects of
pomegranate for people’s health.
What Have We Learned?
A
2012 clinical trial of about 100 dialysis patients suggested that
pomegranate juice may help ward off infections. In the study, the
patients who were given pomegranate juice three times a week for a year
had fewer hospitalizations for infections and fewer signs of
inflammation, compared with patients who got the placebo.
Pomegranate
extract in mouthwash may help control dental plaque, according to a
small 2011 clinical trial with 30 healthy participants.
Pomegranate may help improve some signs of heart disease but the
research isn’t definitive.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Some people, particularly those with plant allergies, may be allergic
to pomegranate.
It’s
unclear whether pomegranate interacts with the anticoagulant (blood
thinning) medicine warfarin or drugs that work similarly in the body
to warfarin.
Federal agencies have taken action against
companies selling pomegranate juice and supplements for deceptive
advertising and making drug-like claims about the products. For more on
this, view the NCCIH Director’s Page entitled
Excessive Claims.
Keep in Mind
Tell
all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative
health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to
manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and
safe care.
Key References
- Al-Zoreky
N. Antimicrobial
activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit
peels. International Journal of Food
Microbiology. 2009;134(3):244-248.
- Bhadbhade
SJ, Acharya AB, Rodrigues SV, et al. The
antiplaque efficacy of pomegranate mouthrinse. Quintessence International. 2011;42(1):29-36.
- Hanley
MJ, Masse G, Harmatz JS, et al. Pomegranate
juice and pomegranate extract do not impair oral clearance of
flurbiprofen in human volunteers: divergence from in vitro results. Clinical Pharmacology &
Therapeutics. 2012;92(5):651-657.
- Ismail
T, Sestili P, Akhtar S. Pomegranate
peel and fruit extracts: a review of potential anti-inflammatory and
anti-infective effects. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012;143(2):397-3405.
- Mirmiran
P, Fazeli MR, Asghari G, et al. Effect
of pomegranate seed oil on hyperlipidemic subjects: a double-blind
placebo-controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Nutrition. 2010;104(3):402-406.
- Pomegranate.
Natural Medicines Web site. Accessed at
naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/ on June 4, 2015.
[Database subscription].
- Shema-Didi
L, Sela S, Ore L, et al. One
year of pomegranate juice intake decreases oxidative stress,
inflammation, and incidence of infections in hemodialysis patients: a
randomized placebo-controlled trial. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2012;53(2):297-304.
- Southgate
MT. The
cover. Pomegranate jars. JAMA. 2007;297(8):781.
- Stowe
CB. The
effects of pomegranate juice consumption on blood pressure and
cardiovascular health. Complementary Therapies in
Clinical Practice. 2011;17(2):113-115.
- Syed
DN, Afaq F, Mukhtar H. Pomegranate
derived products for cancer chemoprevention. Seminars in Cancer Biology. 2007;17(5):377-385.
-NIH
