Pomegranate:Ancient Fruit of Life Yields Modern Promise.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Pomegranate.
- .Pomegranate Origin and History.
- .Pomegranate Constituents and Phytochemicals.
- .Pomegranate Food Value and Uses.
- .Other Uses of Pomegranate.
- .Pomegranate Medicinal Action and Uses.
- .Suggestions and Administration of Pomegranate.
- .Safety and Toxicity Study.
- .Pomegranate and Its Modern Research Update.
Safety and Toxicity Study.
Safety and Acute toxicity:Punica granatum L.
Acute toxicity(LD50):Punica granatum L.
LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Intraperitoneal.OF-1 mice of both sexes. >90 mL/kg;Confidence limits were 565-945 mg/kg.
Current investigation focuses on the toxicity evaluation of whole fruit hydroalcoholic extract of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae), used in Cuban traditional medicine a.o. for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Previous findings on the anti-influenza activity of Punica granatum extracts has given support to the ethnopharmacological application. In our study, in chick embryo model, it was found that doses of the extract of less than 0.1 mg per embryo are not toxic. The LD[50] of the extract, determined in OF-1 mice of both sexes after intraperitoneal administration, was 731 mg/kg. Confidence limits were 565-945 mg/kg. At the doses of 0.4 and 1.2 mg/kg of extract, the repeated intranasal administration to Wistar rats produced no toxic effects in terms of food intake, weight gain, behavioural or biochemical parameters, or results of histopathological studies. We conclude that toxic effects of Punica granatum fruit extract occurred at higher doses than those effective in the models where the anti-viral activity has been studied or than those doses used in Cuban folk medicine.
Reference:Studies on the toxicity of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) whole fruit extracts.Journal of ethnopharmacology (J. ethnopharmacol.) ISSN 0378-8741.2003, vol. 89, no2-3, pp. 295-300 [6 page(s) (article)] (32 ref.)
Pomegranate fruit and derivatives, such as juice have a long history of human use dating back to ancient times.(38A) Acute toxicity studies of pomegranate fruit, fruit juice, extracts and derivatives in laboratory animals at concentrations and consumption levels commonly used in folk and traditional medicine noted no toxic effects.(28A, 39A,) The polyphenol antioxidant punicalagin, which is very abundant in pomegranate juice (> 2 g/L) was evaluated for toxicity in rats. No toxic effects were observed, no significant differences were found in the treatment group in comparison to the control group and histopathological analysis of organs confirmed the absence of toxicity.(40A)While not conclusive, case studies of allergic reactions to pomegranate have been reported in those with pre-existing allergic conditions.(41A, 42A)
Reference:Vidal A, Fallarero A, Pena BR, Medina ME, Gra B, Rivera F, Gutierrez Y, Vuorela PM, Studies on the toxicity of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) whole fruit extracts. J Ethnopharm 89, 295-300 (2003).
Desta, B. Ethiopian traditional herbal drugs. Part I. studies on toxicity and therapeutic activity of local taenicidal medications. J Ethnopharm 45, 27-33 (1995)
Madihassan, S. Outline of the beginnings of alchemy and its antecedents. Am J Chinese Med 12, 32-42 (1984)
Cerda B, Ceron JJ, Tomas-Barberan FA, Espin JC, Repeated oral administration of high doses of the pomegranate ellagitannin punicalagin to rats for 37 days is not toxic. J Agric Food Chem. 51:3493-501 (2003)
Gaig P, Bartolome B, Lleonart R, Garcia-Ortega P, Palacios R, Richart C. Allergy to pomegranate (Punica granatum). Allergy. 1999;54:287-288.
Zoccatelli G, Olivieri M, Peruffo A. Allergy to pomegranate: a case report. Allergy Clin Immunol Int. 2005;1(suppl):580
Safety and Acute toxicity:Ellagic acid
CAS No.:476-66-4.Molecular Formula:C14-H6-O8. Molecular Weight:302.20
Synonmys:Alizarine Yellow;Benzoaric acid;C.I.55005;C.I.75270;Elagostasine;Eleagic acid;Ellagic acid;Gallogen(astringent);2,3,7,8-Tetrahydroxy(1)benzopyrano(5,4,3-cde)(1)benzopyran-5,10-dione.
Acute toxicity(LD50):Ellagic acid
LD50-Lethal dose,50 percent kill.Oral.Rodent-rat. >90 mL/kg;
NOES-National Occupational Exposure Survey(1983):Ellagic acid
NOES Hazard Code-E0173
No.of Facilities: 42(estimated)
No.of Industries:1
No.of Occupations:1
No.of Employees:350 (estimated)
No.of Female Employees:285 (estimated)
Reproductive Data:Ellagic acid
TDLo-Lowest published toxic dose.Intravenous.Rodent-mouse.1208 mg/kg. Sex/Duration:female 16 day(s) after conception.
Toxic Effect: Reproductive-Fertility-abortion.
Reproductive-Specific Development Abnormalities-blood and lymphatic systems (including spleen and marrow).
Reference:AMBPBZ Acta Pathologica et Microbiologica Scandinavica,Section A:Pathology.(Copenhagen,Denmark)V.78-89,1970-81.For publisher information,see ACPADQ.Volume(issue)/page/year:79,487,1971.
Reference:
1.Pomegranate:Ancient Fruit of Life Yields Modern Promise.Pomegranate Extract.




