Pomegranate Fruit Pomegranate Fruit Health BenefitsHealth Benefits

ObjectivesObjectives

To describe pomegranate fruit To describe pomegranate fruit and plant cultivation. and plant cultivation.

To analyze the antioxidant To analyze the antioxidant properties and nutritional values properties and nutritional values of the pomegranate fruit.of the pomegranate fruit.

Family:Lythraceae

Genus:Punica

Species:granatum

Taxonomy

Origin and DomesticationOrigin and Domestication

1769

1416

Plant StructurePlant Structure The tree:The tree:

• Rounded shrub or Rounded shrub or small tree 12 to 16 ft. in small tree 12 to 16 ft. in height. height.

• Usually deciduousUsually deciduous• Stiff, angular branches, Stiff, angular branches,

often spiny. often spiny. • Long-lived tree. Long-lived tree. • Vigor declines after about Vigor declines after about

15 years.15 years.

Plant StructurePlant Structure Leaves and flowers:Leaves and flowers:

• Glossy, leathery leaves that Glossy, leathery leaves that are narrow and lance-shaped.are narrow and lance-shaped.

• Flowers have a bright red Flowers have a bright red color and 5 to 8 crumpled color and 5 to 8 crumpled petalspetals

• Red, fleshy, tubular calyx Red, fleshy, tubular calyx which persists on the fruit. which persists on the fruit.

• Self-pollinated Self-pollinated • Cross-pollination (insects & Cross-pollination (insects &

wind)wind)• Blooms from early May to Blooms from early May to

NovemberNovember• Flowering from mid May to Flowering from mid May to

early June early June

Plant StructurePlant Structure FruitFruit

• Round shaped (2-1/2 to 5 in.)Round shaped (2-1/2 to 5 in.)• Tough, leathery yellow/red Tough, leathery yellow/red

skin or rind. skin or rind. • Interior is separated by Interior is separated by

membranous walls and white, membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue into spongy, bitter tissue into compartments packed with compartments packed with sacs filled with sweetly acid, sacs filled with sweetly acid, juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp juicy, red, pink or whitish pulp or or arilaril. .

• Each sac have one angular, Each sac have one angular, soft or hard seed.soft or hard seed.

Plant CulturePlant Culture

ClimateClimate Mild-temperate to subtropical Mild-temperate to subtropical

regions. Also adapted to regions with regions. Also adapted to regions with cool winters and hot summers.cool winters and hot summers.

It can be severely injured by It can be severely injured by temperatures below 12º F (-11º C)temperatures below 12º F (-11º C)

The plant favors a semi-arid climate The plant favors a semi-arid climate and is extremely drought -tolerant.and is extremely drought -tolerant.

Plant CulturePlant Culture

SoilSoil Calcareous to deep loam Calcareous to deep loam pH: alkaline to acidic pH: alkaline to acidic In northern India, it is spontaneous In northern India, it is spontaneous

on rock gravel surfaces. on rock gravel surfaces.

Plant CulturePlant Culture

PropagationPropagation Hardwood cuttings 10 to 20 in (25-50 Hardwood cuttings 10 to 20 in (25-50

cm) cm) • Most commonMost common

Set in beds with 1 or 2 buds above the Set in beds with 1 or 2 buds above the soil for 1 year before transplant. soil for 1 year before transplant.

Grafting has never been successful. Grafting has never been successful. Seedlings lack uniformity. Seedlings lack uniformity.

Air-layered branches and suckers from Air-layered branches and suckers from a parent plant can work too.a parent plant can work too.

Plant CulturePlant CulturePlantingPlanting 2 ft (60 cm) deep 2 ft (60 cm) deep 12 to 18 ft (3.5-5.5 m) apart (depending on the 12 to 18 ft (3.5-5.5 m) apart (depending on the

fertility of the soil)fertility of the soil) Begin to bear 1 year after planting (2-1/2 to Begin to bear 1 year after planting (2-1/2 to

3 years is more common) 3 years is more common) Good commercial production at 5 to 6 years. Good commercial production at 5 to 6 years. PruningPruning Initially, the plants are cut back to 24 to 30 in (60-Initially, the plants are cut back to 24 to 30 in (60-

75 cm) in height 75 cm) in height For the first 3 years, the branches shortened For the first 3 years, the branches shortened

annually to encourage the max number of new annually to encourage the max number of new shoots on all sides and achieve a strong well-shoots on all sides and achieve a strong well-framed plant.framed plant.

After the 3rd year, only suckers and dead After the 3rd year, only suckers and dead branches are removed. branches are removed.

Plant CulturePlant Culture

HarvestingHarvesting The fruits ripen 6 to 7 months after The fruits ripen 6 to 7 months after

flowering. flowering. In California maturity has been equated In California maturity has been equated

with 1.8% titratable acidity and 17% SSC with 1.8% titratable acidity and 17% SSC Fruit cannot be ripened off the tree even Fruit cannot be ripened off the tree even

with ethylene treatment. with ethylene treatment. Clipped close to the base (stem can cause Clipped close to the base (stem can cause

damage in handling and shipping) damage in handling and shipping) Too much sun exposure causes sunscald Too much sun exposure causes sunscald

blemishes and roughening of the rind. blemishes and roughening of the rind.

Food usesFood uses

Can be consumed Can be consumed fresh.fresh.

JuiceJuice is becoming a is becoming a very popular very popular beverage.beverage.

Health benefits of Health benefits of pomegranate juice pomegranate juice are becoming more are becoming more widely known.widely known.

Research currently Research currently being conducted on it. being conducted on it.

Health ClaimsHealth Claims

Nutritional valueNutritional value

Polyphenols Antioxidant ActivityPolyphenols Antioxidant Activity

Antioxidant Health BenefitsAntioxidant Health Benefits

Nutritional ValuesNutritional Values

Polyphenol Antioxidant Polyphenol Antioxidant ActivityActivity

Antioxidants: scavengers that can neutralize Antioxidants: scavengers that can neutralize free radicalsfree radicals• prevent the cell and tissue damage linked to prevent the cell and tissue damage linked to

disease. disease. Polyphenols are potent of the antioxidants. Polyphenols are potent of the antioxidants. Other antioxidantsOther antioxidants

• tannins, punicalagin, anthocyanins (abundant in tannins, punicalagin, anthocyanins (abundant in pomegranate juice) pomegranate juice)

At least 10,000 unique polyphenols in the At least 10,000 unique polyphenols in the world. world.

Polyphenols “many phenols”. Polyphenols “many phenols”. • carbon-based chemical structure that bound carbon-based chemical structure that bound

together form a polyphenol. together form a polyphenol.

Pomegranate Antioxidant Pomegranate Antioxidant ContentsContents

Both pomegranate pulp and peel contain Both pomegranate pulp and peel contain many different kinds of antioxidants. many different kinds of antioxidants.

Pomegranate Juice Antioxidant Pomegranate Juice Antioxidant FactsFacts

Antioxidant Health BenefitsAntioxidant Health Benefits

Lower risk or heart diseaseLower risk or heart disease Slower cancer processSlower cancer process Reduce severity of atherosclerosisReduce severity of atherosclerosis Reduce risk of coronary heart Reduce risk of coronary heart

diseasedisease Improve vascular systemImprove vascular system

Medicinal PurposesMedicinal Purposes

Uses in ancient Egypt civilizationUses in ancient Egypt civilization Uses in ancient Greek civilizationUses in ancient Greek civilization Help digestion Help digestion Relieve mouth and throat Relieve mouth and throat

inflammation inflammation

ConclusionConclusion

Pomegranate trees are very Pomegranate trees are very adaptable to many different adaptable to many different environmentsenvironments