Pomegranate :

The ruby jewel fruit

by Shari Jayawardhana

The pomegranate fruit is well known for its exquisite beauty, flavour, colour, and health benefits for centuries. From their distinctive crown to their ruby red arils, pomegranates are royalty among fruits. They are symbolic of prosperity and abundance in virtually every civilisation.

The name "pomegranate" derives from the French term pomme granate meaning 'seeded apple.' It is also sometimes referred to as a Chinese apple. Many scholars believe that the forbidden - yet irresistible - fruit in which Eve indulged within the Garden of Eden was actually a pomegranate (and not an apple).

The Pomegranate or Punica granatum L. belongs to the Punicaceae family. It is between a lemon and a grape fruit in size. It ranges from about 5-12cm in diametre and is the shape of a rounded hexagon.

Water-laden pulp

The seeds of the Pomegranate fruit vary from 200-1,400 and they are deep red in colour. Each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp. The pomegranate tree grows to about 5-8 metres tall. It is cultivated commercially across the Indian sub-continent, Iran, Caucuses and Mediterranean regions. In Sri Lanka, the fruit, is known as Delum in Sinhala and Mathulai in Tamil. Sri Lankans cultivate it in their home gardens as a medicinal plant or a fruit tree.

The fresh fruits of pomegranate are generally eaten raw. In countries such as Sri Lanka, the pomegranate juice is a very popular beverage. The extracted juice may be concentrated and frozen for future use.

It may also be made into thick syrup for use as a sauce and is also often converted into wine. Pomegranate seeds, dried with the pulp are commonly used as a spice in many dishes. The seeds are also used as a garnish on rice dishes, waffles, pancakes and ice cream sundaes. This ruby-red fruit is a rich source of soluble and insoluble dietary fibres which aid in digestive and bowel movements. A regular intake of pomegranate is suggested by nutritionists in weight reduction and cholesterol controlling programs. Regular inclusion of pomegranate in the diets boosts immunity, improves circulation, and offers protection from cancers.

Pomegranate juice is a good source of vitamins C and B.The pomegranate fruit is rich in beneficial antioxidants, like polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins. The antioxidant level in pomegranate juice is higher than in other fruit juices, red wine or green tea. Recent research has shown that pomegranates can help fight osteoarthritis, as regular consumption of the juice slows down the deterioration of the cartilage. The juice of the fruit also has antiviral and antibacterial effects against dental plaque. Consumption of pomegranate juice has proven to help immensely in cases of prostate cancer or prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes or lymphoma. The Pomegranate has polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that aids in extending the life span and slows the process of ageing.

It increases blood flow to the heart, and is extremely beneficial for people with ischemic heart disease as it contains vitamins and enzymes known for keeping low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol from oxidising and causing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. The organic pomegranate seeds act a lot like aspirin, keeping blood platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous blood clots.

Traditional remedy

The delum fruit is used in Sri Lankan native treatment. The rind of the fruit and the bark of the pomegranate tree is used as a traditional remedy against diarrhoea, dysentery and intestinal parasites. The seeds and juice are considered a tonic for the heart and throat. The astringent qualities of the flower, juice, rind and tree bark are considered valuable for a variety of purposes, such as stopping nose bleeds and gum bleeds, toning skin, (after blending with mustard oil) and treating haemorrhoids. Pomegranate juice (of specific fruit strains) is also used as eye drops as it is believed to slow the development of cataract.

Long thought to be a luxurious and healthy fruit for the skin, it's recently shown in studies to actually help encourage cell regeneration, aiding in daily skin repair and helping to reduce the signs of ageing. The pomegranate fruit which is rich in antioxidants has been used in ayurvedic skin care for centuries. The fatty acids found in the fruit promotes the regeneration of the epidermis, improves the elasticity of the skin and provides intense nourishment for dry skin and enhancing it with a healthy and radiant glow.

Pomegranate can be used to produce different value added products such as jam, cordials, ice-cream, flavoured tea, energy drinks and a host of skin care products. These value added products can be produced in by either cottage level or large scale level. In addition to that research and development activities in Sri Lanka should focus on identifying the maturity index for different types of pomegranate, storage methods, environmental and consumer friendly ripening methods, development of value added products with enhanced shelf life and preserve nutritional quality.