Pomegranate or Delum the medicinal fruit.

Ayurveda is fast becoming a household name with all those interested inalternative medicine, and works on the basis that the mind and body affect each other, and together can overcome disease

The pomegranate Punica granatum L. belongs to the family Punicaceae. It is cultivated in home gardens in Sri Lanka specially as a medicinal plant and as a fruit tree. The fruit is between a lemon and a grape fruit in size. It ranges from about 5-12cm in diameter and is round in shape.

There is no other fruit crop that has high medicinal value compared to that in pomegranate.

The pomegranate fruit is well known for its exquisite beauty, flavor, color, and health benefits for centuries. Pomegranates are royalty among fruits. They are symbolic of prosperity and abundance in virtually every civilization.

The name "pomegranate" derives from the French term “pomme granate” meaning 'seeded apple.

Water-laden pulp

The seeds of the Pomegranate fruit vary from 200-1,400 and they are deep red in color. Each seed has a surrounding water-laden pulp. The pomegranate tree grows to about 5-8 meters tall. It is cultivated commercially across the Indian sub-continent, Iran, Caucuses and Mediterranean regions. In Sri Lanka, the fruit is known as Delum in Sinhala and Mathulai in Tamil. Sri Lankans cultivate it in their home gardens as a medicinal plant or a fruit tree.

The fresh fruits of pomegranate are generally eaten raw. In countries such as Sri Lanka, the pomegranate juice is a very popular beverage. The extracted juice may be concentrated and frozen for future use.

Pomegranate juice is a good source of vitamins C and B. The pomegranate fruit is rich in beneficial antioxidants, like polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins. The antioxidant level in pomegranate juice is higher than in other fruit juices, or green tea. Recent research has shown that pomegranates can help fight osteoarthritis, as regular consumption of the juice slows down the deterioration of the cartilage. The juice of the fruit also has antiviral and antibacterial effects against dental plaque. Consumption of pomegranate juice has proven to help immensely in cases of prostate cancer or prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes or lymphoma. The Pomegranate has polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that aids in extending the life span and slows the process of ageing.

It increases blood flow to the heart, and is extremely beneficial for people with ischemic heart disease as it contains vitamins and enzymes known for keeping low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol from oxidizing and causing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. The organic pomegranate seeds act a lot like aspirin, keeping blood platelets from sticking together and forming dangerous blood clots.

Pomegranate can be used to produce different value added products such as jam, cordials, ice-cream, flavored tea, energy drinks and a host of skin care products. These value added products can be produced in by either cottage level or large scale level. In addition to that research and development activities in Sri Lanka should focus on identifying the maturity index for different types of pomegranate, storage methods, environmental and consumer friendly ripening methods, development of value added products with enhanced shelf life and preserve nutritional quality.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate

The pomegranate fruit is rich in beneficial antioxidants, like polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins. The antioxidant level in pomegranate juice is higher than in other fruit juices, or green tea.

Recent research has shown that pomegranates can help fightosteoarthritis, as regular consumption of the juice slows down the deterioration of the cartilage
Pomegranate juice is also believed to increase blood flow to the heart, and is extremely beneficial for people with heart disease

It is also a good source of vitamins C and B, antioxidant polyphenols, pantothenic acid and potassium.
The juice of the fruit is an effective remedy to reduce heart disease risk factor, including LDL Oxidation, macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell formation

Juice of the pomegranate has been found effective in reducing heart disease risk factors, including LDL oxidation, macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell formation, all of which are steps in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
The juice of the fruit also has antiviral and antibacterial effects against dental plaque
Consumption of pomegranate juice has proven to help immensely in cases of prostate cancer or prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes or lymphoma