A Rimon a Day Keeps the Doctor Away by H. Babich The rimon, or pomegranate (Punica granatum), is intimately connected with Rosh HaShanah, as it is commonly the “new fruit” on which a shechianu is recited and as itis one of the foods (simanei milsa) used to beseech HaShem for good things in the coming year. Upon eating a pomegranate the individual recites, “May it beYour will, HaShem, that our merits increase as the seeds in a pomegranate.” The pomegranate was one of the food items eaten at the conclusion of the Yom Kippur fast (Shabbat 115a). In the time of the Gemora, pomegranates decorated the sukkah (Betzah 30b). The pomegranate is one of the choice fruits of Ertez Yisrael (Devarim 8:8) and, as such, after eating, one recites the blessing of mayan shalosh (Berachot 44a). It is one of the agricultural species brought by the spies to Moshe (Bamidbar 13:23). Peah (Mishna, Peah 1:5) and tithes (Mishna, Massarot, 1:2) were collected from pomegranates. Adornments shaped as pomegranate were embroidered on hem of the robe of the Kohen Gadol, the two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, of the Beis HaMikdash, were ornamented with pomegranates (I Malachim 7:18), and three joined pomegranates appeared on Hasmonean coins. The phrase, “Thy temples are like a pomegranate” (Shir HaShirim 6:7) is homiletically translated to mean that the merits of the most unworthy Jews are as plentiful as the seeds of a pomegranate (Eruvin 10a; Chagigah 27a, and others). The symmetry of seeds in a pomegranate are compared to children leaning Torah in cheder. The phrase “If the pomegranates have budded,” is interpreted as, just like the seeds of a pomegranate are arranged in the pomegranate, the little children sit in row after row in their class and learn Torah (Shir HaShirim Medrash Rabba, 6:11). According to tradition, the seeds of a pomegranate number 613, corresponding to the number of mitzvot. If your pomegranate had less than 613, perhaps the number in your pomegranate corresponds to the number of mitzvot you personally are expected to observe (¢.g., males and females have some distinct mitzvoth). In ancient times pomegranates were eaten fresh or consumed as a juice or wine (Shabbat 143b; Shir HsShirim 8:2), as well as a dried fruit (termed, pered; Mishna, Maasarot, 1:6). Children, in particular, enjoyed pomegranates (Taanis 23a). Children would hollow out a pomegranate and make it into a toy to measure sand (i.e., the forerunner of the sand pail!) (Chullin 12b). Visualizing a pomegranate in a dream is a positive omen, with the extent of the bracha positively correlated with the size of the fruit (Berachos 57a). Apparently, at one time, pomegranate trees flourished throughout Eretz Yisrael and its fruits were appreciated by all. Today it is difficult to appreciate the pomegranate. Yet, within the past five years much scientific research has demonstrated health benefits andtherapeutic properties of pomegranates. Epidemiological studies show that consumption of fruits and vegetables with high polyphenol content correlates with reduced cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and cancer mortality. Pomegranate is a rich source of polyphenols, with demonstrated antioxidant activity (Noda et al., 2002; Plumb et al., 2002). Pomegranate polyphenols are readily absorbed during digestion (Perez-Vicente et al., 2002) and may have a variety of positive health effects. Potential health effects of pomegranates (a) anticarcinogen: Using animal model systems, pomegranate seed oil exhibited chemopreventive effects on chemically-induced skin cancer (Hora ef al., 2003) and colon cancer (Kohno ef al., 2004). Extracts of pomegranate fruit inhibited growth of human leukemic cells in culture (Kawaii and Lansky, 2004) and various preparations of pomegranate inhibited growth of human breast cancer cells in culture and prevented invasion of these cells across a membrane, suggesting the ability to retard the spread of a malignancy (Kim et al., 2002). (0) cardiovascular effects: The potent antiatherogenic effects of pomegranate juice have been demonstrated in healthy humans and in atherosclerotic mice. A reduction in blood pressure was observed in patients consuming pomegranate juice Dietary supplementation of polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice to atherosclerotic mice inhibited the development of atherosclerotic lesions, possibly due to protection against the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) (Aviram and Dornfield, 2001; Aviram et al., 2000, 2002; Kaplan et al., 2001). (©) dental effects: Extract of pomegranate incorporated into a gel and topically applied exhibited antifungal properties for treatment of yeast infections (candidosis) associated with dentures (Vasconcelos et al., 2003). Clinical signs of chronic periodontal disease were significantly reduced in patients treated with extracts of pomegranate following scaling and root planning (Sastravaha et al., 2003). (@) dermatology: Using an animal model system, topical application extract of pomegranate peels promoted wound healing against an excision wound on the skin (Murthy et al., 2004). (©) osteoporosis: Using an animal model, it was suggested that pomegranate extract may be clinical effective in preventing bone loss in menopausal women (Mori- Okamoto et al., 2004). (f) anti-inflammation: Pomegranate seed oil and fermented juices inhibited enzymes associated with the inflammatory process (Schubert et al., 1999). (2) gastrointestinal infections: Pomegranate extract was highly toxic to Escherichia coli 0157:H7, the causative agent of intestinal infections, and a common contaminant of spoiled meat products (Voravuthikunchai et al,, 2004). To most readers, the following bibliography will have little meaning. However, by including the scientific bibliography, the reader will gain a fuller appreciation that these studies are not folk remedies and tales, but rather current state-of-the-art research elucidating the health effects of pomegranates. Possibly, one now gets a fuller idea of why pomegranates are one of the choice fruits of Eretz Yisrael.Scientific references Aviram, M. and L. Domfeld, 2001, Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure, Atherosclerosis 158:195-198. Aviram, M. et al., 2000, Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL, and platelet aggregation: studies in humans and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, Amer. J. Clin. Nutr, 71:1062-1076. Aviram, M. et al., 2002, Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice and in humans, Drugs Exp. Clin. Res., 28:49-62. Hora, J.J. ef al., 2003, Chemopreventive effects of pomegranate seed oil on skin tumor development in CD1 mice, J. Med. Food, 6:157-161. Kaplan, M. et al., 2001, Pomegranate juice supplementation to atherosclerotic mice reduces macrophage lipid peroxidation, cellular cholesterol accumulation and development of atherosclerosis, J. Nutr., 131:2082-2089. Kawaii, S. and E.P. Lansky, 2004, Differentiation-promoting activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit extracts in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, J Med. Food, 7:13-18. Kim, N.D. et al, 2002, Chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum) for human breast cancer, Breast Cancer Res. Treat., 71: 203-217. Kohno, H. et al., 2004, Pomegranate seed oil rich in conjugated linolenic acid suppresses chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in rats, Cancer Sci., 95:481-486. Murthy, KN. ef al., 2004, Study on wound healing activity of Punica granatum peel, J. Med. Food, 7:256-259. Noda, Y., et al., 2002, Antioxidant activities of pomegranate fruit extract and its anthocyanidins: delphinidin, cyaniding, and pelargonidin, J. Agr. Food Chem., 50:166- 171. Mori-Okamoto, J. et al., 2004, Pomegranate extract improves a depressive state and bone Properties in menopausal syndrome model ovariectomized mice, J. Ethnopharmacol., 92:93-101. Perez-Vicente, A. et al., 2002, In vitro gastrointestinal digestion study of juice phenolic compounds, anthocyanains, and vitamin C, J. Agr. Food Chem., 50:2308- 2312. Plumb, G.W., et al, 2002, Antioxidant properties of gallocatechins and prodelphinidins from pomegranate peel, Redox Rep., 7:41-46. Sastravaha, G. et al., 2003, Adjunctive periodontal treatment with Centella asiatica and Pucina granatum extracts. A preliminary study, J. Int. Acad. Petiodontol., 5:106-115. Schubert, S.Y. et al.,1999, Antioxidant and eicosanoid enzyme inhibition properties of pomegranate seed oil and fermented juice flavonoids, J. Ethnopharmacol., 66:11-17. Vasconcelos, L.C. ef al., 2003, Use of Punica granatum as an antifungal agents against candidosis associated with denture stomatitis, Mycoses 46:192-196. Voravuthikunchai, S. ef al, 2004, Effect medicinal plants against enterohaemorthagic Escherichia coli 0157:H7, J. Ethnopharmacol, 94:49-54.