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Latin name : Punica granatum

English/Common name : Pomegranate, Granada (Spanish), Grenade (French).

Indian/Ayurvedic name : Anar, Daaru, Dalim, Dadima, Daran (Himachal Pradesh)

Family : Punicaceae, Punica proto-punica

Major Constituents : Elligatannins, Punicalgin, Pelletierine, Granatins, Pectins

Origin

One of the important centers of wild pomegranate in Himachal Pradesh is Darlaghat, which is located about 50 km from Shimla. The word Darlaghat literally means a pass or place of wild pomegranate-trees in India.

An erect deciduous spreading shrub or tree can be 8 to 10 meters high; stern, woody and thorny; girth of main stem, 48 to 78 cm; wood, very hard and light yellow; leaves shed in December, new light red leaves appear in the middle of March, new growth, very ornamental.

Fruit is globular, crowned by a persistent calyx, possessing a hard outer rind with a red tinge.

Seeds are angular, with a fleshy aril which constitutes the edible part.

Color varies from red to pinkish white.

Anar in the Products

Medicinal properties

The juice of fresh leaves and young Pomegranate is given in dysentery. The powdered bark is given for expelling roundworms (Dastur, 1962). According to Kirtikar and Basu (1935) the unripe fruits and flowers are useful in inducing vomiting, the rind of the fruit is given in diarrhoea and dysentery. They also strengthen the gums. Ripe fruit is tonic, laxative and enriches the blood. Pomegranate is also useful in sore throat, sore eyes, brain diseases and chest troubles.

The juice of the fresh leaves and young fruit is useful in dysentery. The flower-buds are astringent, and are given in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery.

Pomegranate eliminates all the three excessive humors in the body and is beneficial in inflammation and fever. Sour pomegranate increases the appetite. Sweet pomegranate increases and strengthens the intelligence.

Pomegranate checks the bleeding of gum and cures indigestion.

Caution: According to Ayurveda, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.

"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."