Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The human body converts ß-carotene to vitamin A, which
is a very important compound for vision and helps to main-
tain eye lubrication. Therefore those with dry eyes should
consume plenty of pomegranates in their diet. Recently, the
extract of pomegranate, especially from the rind catechin,
quercetin, kaempferol, and equol, has been shown to inhibit
skin photoaging induced by UVB irradiation (Park et al.,
2010). Thus pomegranate juice, which includes the rind
extract, could be used for protecting human skin against
the harmful effects of sunlight. A recent study has sug-
gested that ellagitannins extracted from pomegranate may
have beneficial effects against colon cancer (Sharma et al.,
2010). In the stomach and gut, elligatannins hydrolyze to
release ellagic acid and are converted by gut microbiota
to urolithin A, a metabolite type that inhibits the prolifer-
ation of colon cancer cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and
modulates key cellular processes linked to colon cancer
development (Sharma et al., 2010).
Punicaligan, a common tannin in pomegranate, has
strong antibacterial and antifungal activities (Burapadaja
and Bunchoo, 1995). Besides punicaligan, castalagin, gra-
natin, catechin, gallocatechin, kaempferol, quercetin, and
other phytochemical compounds with small percentages
found in pomegranate (Seeram et al., 2006) possess an-
timicrobial attributes such as gurading, e.g., protection
against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Salmonella typhi
(Prashanth et al., 2001),
Candida albi-
cans
(the most common etiological agent for many clini-
cal mycoses which may lead to human and animal death)
(Tayel and El-Tras, 2009), as well as against both food-
borne pathogens and spoilage bacteria (Alanıs et al., 2005).
Pomegranate peel extract as an anticandidal compound in
the form of aerosol could be used for sterilizing semiclosed
places that are suspected of
Candida albicans
contamina-
tion such as hospitals, farms, and jails (Tayel and El-Tras,
2009).
Table 27.7.
Nutritional profile of California-
grown 'Wonderful' pomegranate fruit and juice
(per 100 g).
Raw
Fruit
Juice,
Bottled
Nutrient
Unit
Proximate:
Water
g
77.93
85.95
Energy
kcal
83
54
Protein
g
1.67
0.15
Total lipid (fat)
g
1.17
0.29
Ash
g
0.53
0.49
Carbohydrate, by difference
g
18.7
13.13
Fiber, total dietary
g
4
0.1
Sugars, total
g
13.67
12.65
Minerals:
Calcium
mg
10
11
Iron
mg
0.3
0.1
Magnesium
mg
12
7
Phosphorus
mg
36
11
Potassium
mg
236
214
Sodium
mg
3
9
Zinc
mg
0.35
0.09
Copper
mg
0.158
0.021
Selenium
μ
g .5 .3
Vitamins:
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid
mg
10.2
0.1
Thiamin
mg
0.067
0.015
Riboflavin
mg
0.053
0.015
Niacin
mg
0.293
0.233
Pantothenic acid
mg
0.377
0.285
Folate, total
μ
g
38
24
Choline, total
mg
7.6
4.8
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
mg
0.6
0.38
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)
μ
g
16.4
10.4
Source: USDA (2010).
Folk medicine
Pomegranate extracts were used to cure a wide variety of
ailments in ancient cultures, such as the riddance of tape-
worms in Egypt (Wren, 1998), as plaster to reduce eye
inflammation, and as an aid to digestion in Greece (Adams,
1849). Pomegranate bark, leaves, and immature fruits have
been used against diarrhea and hemorrhage, while dried and
crushed flower buds are made into a tea to treat bronchitis
(Stover and Mercure, 2007). In Mexico, flower extracts are
used as a gargle to alleviate mouth and throat inflammation
(Morton, 1987). Many of these uses have been documented
by clinical studies (Seeram et al., 2006; Stover and Mercure,
2007).
reduce systolic blood pressure and may be effective against
prostate cancer and osteoarthritis (Aviram and Dornfeld,
2001).
Antiviral and antibacterial effects of pomegranate
juice against dental plaque have been also documented
(Prashanth et al., 2001; Vasconcelos et al., 2003).
Pomegranates are rich in ß-carotene, which prevents the
buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries, protects the eyes
from sun damage, and deactivates free radicals responsi-
ble for accelerating aging and increasing the risk of cancer
(Aviram et al., 2002; Hora et al., 2003; Afaq et al., 2005).
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