Evaluation Possibilities of Different Parts of Pomegranate, a Historical Fruit and Its Effects on Health

Abstract

Today, with the faster development of science and technology, people have started to pay more attention to healthy living and consuming foods that are beneficial for human health. In this context, the value given to fruit species has become increasingly important and the importance of plants whose seeds are consumed has increased, as well as colourful fruits and vegetables. Pomegranate is a fruit grown in many countries in the world, especially in the Mediterranean climate, and its economic value has been increasing in recent years. This fruit has gained great nutritional importance not only because of its flavour but also because it contains many antioxidant substances and phenolic compounds that are beneficial to human health. There are nearly fifty pomegranate varieties registered in our country. These pomegranate varieties range from sweet to sour, from small-in size to large in size, and from hard-seeded to soft-seeded in terms of skin colour and fruit colour. In recent years, the use of pomegranate parts such as peel, seeds, and flowers in cosmetics and food industry has become widespread and studies on the antioxidant properties of different parts of pomegranate have attracted interest. The aim of this review is to investigate the health effects of pomegranate fruit, different parts of pomegranate, and products made from pomegranate. © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.