Punica protopunica Balf., the Forgotten Sister of the Common Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): Features and Medicinal Properties-A Review.

José Antonio Guerrero-Solano,Elena G Olvera-Hernández,Osmar Antonio Jaramillo-Morales,Tania Jiménez-Cabrera,Alejandro Chehue-Romero,Mirandeli Bautista,Thania Alejandra Urrutia-Hernández

doi:10.3390/plants9091214

José Antonio Guerrero-Solano, Elena G Olvera-Hernández + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091214

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Abstract

Punica protopunica Balf. is one of only two species housed by the Punica genera. Punica protopunica. Balf., known as Socotran pomegranate, is an endemic, isolated species found only in Socotra archipelago in the northwestern Indian Ocean, and is considered to be the ancestor of pomegranate. This review stems from the fact that in many Punica granatum L. articles, Punica protopunica Balf. is mentioned, but just in an informative way, without mentioning their taxonomic and genetic relationship and their medicinal properties. It is there where the need arises to know more about this forgotten species: “the other pomegranate tree.” A large part of the human population does not know of its existence, since only its “sister” has spread throughout the world. The present review deals with the taxonomy and origin of Punica protopunica Balf., the morphology of the tree, distribution, cultivation, vulnerability, and as well as its relationship with Punica granatum L. It also discusses its uses in traditional medicine, its antioxidant capacity, and the medicinal properties of this forgotten species.

Highlights

Myrtales is an order within the classification of terrestrial green plants (Viridiplantae-Streptophyta) [1,2]
P. protopunica Balf. is endemic to Socotra and the distribution is centered on the island, one of the studies we reviewed used specimens of P. protopunica Balf. from Pakistan [41]
This review supports the idea that the P. protopunica Balf. species can be considered as a powerful source of different pharmacological activities

Summary

Introduction

Myrtales is an order within the classification of terrestrial green plants (Viridiplantae-Streptophyta) [1,2]. The Lythraceae family comprises 31 genera including the Punica genera [5]. This is quite surprising as the Punica genera has previously been assigned to the monogenic Punicaceae family [6,7]. Punica with the Lythraceae family [1,8,9,10,11,12,13] It was considered a monogenic Punicaceae family that contains only one genera, Punica [14,15]. According to Pliny, the name Punica was given by the Romans, referring to the city of Cartago, in Tunis (Punic, Phoenician, Carthaginian), from where

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