Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Dadima

Punica granatum

Dadima (Punica granatum) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Seed, juice, peel, and flower all used for different indications. Bioavailability: Ellagic acid from pomegranate shows low oral bioavailability (1-5%) but is converted by gut microbiota to urolithins (urolithin A, B) which have excellent bioavailability and are the active metabolites (individual variation in microbiome conversion is significant—'urolithin metabotype' concept).

Key facts
Botanical namePunica granatum
FamilyLythraceae · other entries in this family
OrderMyrtales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5420901 · Wikidata Q52558783 · NCBI Taxonomy 22663

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishDadima

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Madhura, KashayaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (seed/peel powder), Capsule, Tablet, Arishta (Dadimarishtam), Avaleha (Dadimavaleha), Extract concentrate

Standard Dosage: 30-60ml fresh juice; 3-6g peel powder twice daily; 500mg-1g extract capsule; 15-30ml Dadimarishta; 10-20g Dadimavaleha. Seed, juice, peel, and flower all used for different indications.

Bioavailability: Ellagic acid from pomegranate shows low oral bioavailability (1-5%) but is converted by gut microbiota to urolithins (urolithin A, B) which have excellent bioavailability and are the active metabolites (individual variation in microbiome conversion is significant—‘urolithin metabotype’ concept). Punicalagin (the major ellagitannin, up to 50% of peel weight) is poorly absorbed intact but is the primary precursor for urolithin production. Anthocyanins from juice show rapid absorption (Tmax 0.5-1h) but low systemic levels. Seed oil (punicic acid) absorption enhanced by emulsification.

Optimal Timing: Fresh juice anytime, preferably morning; peel powder before meals for digestive/antidiarrheal effect; Dadimarishta after meals; Dadimavaleha between meals as tonic

Standardized Extract: Peel extract standardized to punicalagins NLT 30%; total ellagitannins NLT 40%; ellagic acid NLT 5%. Juice concentrate standardized to total polyphenols NLT 20%. Seed oil: punicic acid NLT 65%.

Shelf Life: 3 days (fresh juice, refrigerated); 2 years (peel powder); 3 years (extract capsule/tablet); 5 years (Arishta); 1 year (seed oil, nitrogen-flushed)

Storage: Fresh juice refrigerated at 2-8°C in glass (not metal) containers. Peel powder in airtight containers away from moisture. Seed oil in amber glass, refrigerated, nitrogen-flushed. Extract capsules in cool, dry conditions below 25°C.

Marker Compounds: Punicalagin alpha and beta, Punicalin, Ellagic acid, Gallagic acid, Cyanidin-3-glucoside, Delphinidin-3-glucoside, Punicic acid (seed oil), Urolithin A (metabolite), Gallic acid

Extraction Methods

  • Cold-pressed juice extraction from arils
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (50:50) of peel for ellagitannins
  • Ethanol extraction (70%) for punicalagin enrichment
  • Cold pressing of seeds for punicic acid-rich oil
  • Spray drying of juice for stable powder
  • Traditional Arishta fermentation for Dadimarishta

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Amalaki for synergistic antioxidant and digestive benefits
  • With Haritaki for GI tract health
  • With Bilva for IBS and malabsorption
  • With Ashwagandha for cardiovascular protection
  • With Kutaja for chronic diarrhea management

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Morgado A, Tsampoukas G, Sokolakis I and others. 2024. Do "testosterone boosters" really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic reviewInternational journal of impotence research. PMID 37697053 · doi:10.1038/s41443-023-00763-9
  2. Molani-Gol R, Foroumandi E, Alizadeh M and others. 2023. Pomegranate and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic ReviewCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 37005403 · doi:10.2174/1381612829666230330163645

Randomised controlled trials1

  1. Razani Z, Dastani M, Kazerani HR. 2017. Cardioprotective Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice in Patients with Ischemic Heart DiseasePhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 28913846 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5901

Other clinical studies and reviews9

  1. Cordiano R, Gammeri L, Di Salvo E and others. 2024. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Extract Effects on InflammagingMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39275022 · doi:10.3390/molecules29174174
  2. Maphetu N, Unuofin JO, Masuku NP and others. 2022. Medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, and the molecular mechanisms of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) plant extracts: A reviewBiomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. PMID 36076615 · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113256
  3. Cicero AFG, Allkanjari O, Busetto GM and others. 2019. Nutraceutical treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancerArchivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica. PMID 31577095 · doi:10.4081/aiua.2019.3.139
  4. Sharma P, McClees SF, Afaq F. 2017. Pomegranate for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: An UpdateMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 28125044 · doi:10.3390/molecules22010177
  5. Panth N, Manandhar B, Paudel KR. 2017. Anticancer Activity of Punica granatum (Pomegranate): A ReviewPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 28185340 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5784
  6. Asgary S, Keshvari M, Sahebkar A and others. 2017. Pomegranate Consumption and Blood Pressure: A ReviewCurrent pharmaceutical design. PMID 27748197 · doi:10.2174/1381612822666161010103339
  7. Jadoon S, Karim S, Bin Asad MH and others. 2015. Anti-Aging Potential of Phytoextract Loaded-Pharmaceutical Creams for Human Skin Cell LongetivityOxidative medicine and cellular longevity. PMID 26448818 · doi:10.1155/2015/709628
  8. Al-Muammar MN, Khan F. 2012. Obesity: the preventive role of the pomegranate (Punica granatum)Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). PMID 22342388 · doi:10.1016/j.nut.2011.11.013
  9. Neurath AR, Strick N, Li YY and others. 2005. Punica granatum (pomegranate) juice provides an HIV-1 entry inhibitor and candidate topical microbicideAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences. PMID 16387698 · doi:10.1196/annals.1352.015

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Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.