Pomegranate Tree

Pomegranate Tree, Punica granatum L., family Punicaceae, a tree or shrub, probably native to Palestine, Minor Asia, and Persia. It is cultivated along the Mediterranean coast, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus, in Southern Asia, America, etc. In medicine, the bark (VII) from the trunk, branches, and roots of the pomegranate tree is used. The bark of the stems is grayish-yellow on the outside, pale-yellow on the inside, smooth or wrinkled; it contains four alkaloids: pelletierin (punicine-C₉H₁₅NO), isopelletierin (the inactive optical isomer of the first), pseudopelletierin (C₉H₁₅NO+2H₂O), methylpelletierin (C₉H₁₇NO), and pomegranate tannic acid. Only the first two of these have anthelmintic properties, but all are poisonous. Pelletierin, the most studied, is a colorless liquid with an alkaline reaction, which gradually oxidizes and resinifies on exposure to air (therefore fresh bark works better than dried pharmacy bark). It is soluble in 20 parts water, well soluble in alcohol and ether. The toxic effect in humans occurs at a dose of 0.5-0.6. Pelletierin causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, visual disturbances, general weakness, convulsions, and paralysis of the extremities. In animals, pelletierin causes paralysis, acting, according to some authors, on the endings of motor nerves like curare, and according to others, on the muscular system like veratrine. On the central nervous system, pelletierin first excites it and increases reflexes, then paralyzes it. In therapy against tapeworm, the bark of the P. t. is used in the form of a decoction (60 g of bark are first soaked for 6 hours in 750.0 water, then boiled until 250.0 remains); dose 20-30 g. Extract (thick and liquid) is also used; dose 2-5 g. The medicine is taken in 3-4 doses with intervals of 1 hour between doses. It often causes nausea, vomiting, and colic due to the high tannic acid content (20%). Therefore, pelletierin is preferably prescribed with tannic acid: Pelletierinum tannicum 0.5-1.0 per dose or pelletierin 0.3-0.4 together with 1.0 tannin in 30.0 distilled water, 30.0 syrup, and with 10 drops of orange tincture (mix together); take within 5-10 minutes in 2-3 doses, and after 1/2 hour a laxative. After approximately 1-3 hours, the worm is usually completely excreted with the feces. If this does not happen, another dose of laxative is given.

D. Shcherbachev.