Pomegranate
Punica granatum
A Middle Eastern fruit whose juice may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar slightly. The root, stem and peel may be unsafe in large amounts.
Safety at a glance
- Pregnancy1 note →
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- Allergies1 note →
- Toxicity1 note →
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Pomegranate?
- Plant family
- Lythraceae, the loosestrife family, which includes pomegranate
- Parts used
- The fruit and juice
- Where it grows
- From the Middle East; now grown in the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the southwestern United States
- Genus
- Punica
- Species
- granatum
Traditionally used for
- Blood pressure (some evidence)
- Blood sugar (small effect)
- Diarrhea and sore throat (traditional)
Traditionally described as
- Juice and extracts studied in people
Health topics
Where Pomegranate appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.
- High Blood Pressure
Pomegranate juice or extract may help lower blood pressure, but more research is needed.
- High Blood Sugar
Studies suggest pomegranate may lower blood sugar slightly.
How it's prepared
Common ways Pomegranate is prepared or sold. This isn't advice on how to take it; see Safety below.
- Culinary Preparation
Pomegranate is drunk as juice, which many studies have used.[1]Health agency
- Extract
Pomegranate extracts are sold as dietary supplements. It has also been used on the skin and as a gargle or mouthwash.[1]Health agency
Safety
Allergies
Allergic reactions to pomegranate have been reported.[1]Health agency
Side effects
Side effects are uncommon, though some people get digestive symptoms.[1]Health agency
Pregnancy
Drinking pomegranate juice may be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Little is known about other forms or other parts of the plant at these times.[1]Health agency
Toxicity testing
Pomegranate juice is believed to be safe, and the extract may also be safe. The root, stem and peel may not be safe in large amounts, because they contain substances that can be harmful.[1]Health agency
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Pomegranate was used in traditional medicine for intestinal worms, diarrhea, sore throat and other conditions. Today it's promoted for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.[1]Health agency
Research in people
Studies in people, many using pomegranate juice rather than supplements, suggest:
- Blood pressure: juice or extract may help lower it, but more research is needed
- Blood sugar: it may lower it slightly
- Cholesterol and other blood fats: no clear effects
There isn't enough research to say whether it helps any other condition.[1]Health agency
In short
The root, stem and peel may be unsafe in large amounts.
Sources
- [1] Pomegranate: Usefulness and Safety — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH)Government health agency
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.