Pomegranate

Punica granatum (pomegranate) is a long-lived deciduous shrub or small tree of the Lythraceae family, native to the region from Iran to northern India. Botanically, it is unique for its fruit, known as a balausta. It is a special type of berry with a thick leathery pericarp and a persistent calyx, the interior of which is divided into chambers by membranous partitions. The edible part is the arils – juicy, glassy sacs surrounding the seeds. Nutritionally, the fruit is an important source of vitamins C, K, folic acid, and fiber. Its phytochemical profile is one of the strongest in the plant kingdom. It is defined by a high content of hydrolyzable tannins, especially punicagins (concentrated in the skin and membranes), which are converted into ellagic acid in the body. Together with anthocyanins, they provide extreme antioxidant capacity. The oil in the seeds contains rare punicic acid (omega-5) with strong anti-inflammatory effects.