PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Pomegranate
Punica granatum
DESCRIPTION
^ Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the root, the bark,
the fruits, the peel of the fruit and the flowers.
Flower and Fruit: The flowers are infundibulate or rotate,
usually solitary or in pairs of threes at the tips of the
branches. The calyx and receptacle are bright coral-red and
have a tough margin. There are 5 to 8 bright-red campanulate
nodding petals and numerous stamens. The filaments are
orange-red and the anthers yellow-gold. The ovary consists
of 2 or 3 layers lying on top of one another. The fruit is an
apple-sized, round, 1.6 to 12 cm wide false berry whose skin
turns from bright red to leather-brown. The seeds are roughly
square and purple, later acquiring a soft red outer skin.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is an erect, roughly
branched shrub up to 1.5 m high or a small, tree 3 to 5 m tall
with a curved trunk and glabrous 4- to 6-edged, sometimes
spiny-tipped branches. The branches are narrowly winged
when young. The trunk later becomes fissured and twisted.
The leaves are generally opposite or in clusters on the short
^ shoots. They are deciduous, simple, pinnate-veined, short-
petioled, glabrous, hard, oval-lanceolate with a tough middle
rib.
Habitat: The plant probably originated in Asia. Today it is
widespread in the Mediterranean region as far as South
Tyrol, the Near East, South Africa, South Asia, China,
Australia, U.S., and South America.
Production: Pomegranate bark is the dried bark of the trunk
roots and branches of Punica granatum. The roots, trunk and
older branches are collected at the beginning of autumn.
Their bark is peeled off and air-dried.
Other Names: Delima, Grenadier
ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY
COMPOUNDS: POMEGRANATE FRUIT PEEL
Tannins (25 to 28%; gallo tannins): including punicalin
(granatine D), punicalagin (granatine C), granatine A,
granatine B
COMPOUNDS: POMEGRANATE STEMS AND ROOT
W Tannins (20 to 25% gallo tannins): including punicalagin,
punicacortein C, casuarin
Piperidine alkaloids (0.4% in the rind of the stem, up to
0.8% in the rind of the root): chief alkaloids isopelletierine,
N-methylisopelletierine, pseudopelletierine
EFFECTS
The drug, which contains tannins and alkaloids, is anthel-
mintic and amoeboid.

POMEGRANATE/ 605

Pelletierin triggers, like strychnine, a raised stimulant reflex,

which can escalate to tetanus and is effective against diverse

tapeworms, ring worms and nematodes.

The tannins in the drug makes it useful as an astringent for

sore throats, diarrhea and dysentery.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In folk medicine Pomegranate is used for

infestation with tapeworm and other worms, for diarrhea and

dysentery, as an abortifacient and astringent; externally used

for hemorrhoids and as a gargle in cases of sore throat.

Homeopathic Uses: Punica granatum is used for gastrointes-

tinal disturbances.

Chinese Medicine: In China, Pomegranate is used to treat

chronic diarrhea and dysentery, blood in the stool, worm

infestation and anal prolapses.

Indian Medicine: In India, uses include diarrhea, dysentery,

vomiting and eye pain.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages. The high

levels of tannin content in the drug could lead to gastric

irritation.

OVERDOSAGE

Due to the alkaloid content, overdoses with the rind of the

stem or the root (above 80 gm) lead to vomiting, including

the vomiting of blood, later to dizziness, chills, vision

disorders, collapse and possible death through respiratory

failure. Total blindness (amaurosis) could occur within a few

hours or a few days.

Following gastrointestinal emptying, (inducement of vomit-

ing, gastric lavage with burgundy-colored potassium per-

manganate solution, sodium sulfate), installation of

medicinal charcoal and shock prophylaxis (quiet, warmth),

the therapy for poisonings consists of treating spasms with

diazepam (i.v.), electrolyte substitution and treating possible

cases of acidosis with sodium bicarbonate infusions. In case

of shock, plasma volume expanders should be infused.

Monitoring of kidney function is essential. Intubation and

oxygen respiration may also be necessary.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Pomegranate is available as whole,

crude and powder forms for internal and external use. It is

also available in parenteral form for homeopathic use.

Preparation:

Decoction — 1 part drug and 5 parts water.

Macerations — 60 parts drug and 400 parts water macerated

for 12 hours to half the initial volume.