Poisonous pomegranate husks?

Someone I know said that the husk of a pomegranate is toxic - that it contains dangerous amounts of arsenic.

My Google-Fu has failed me on this subject. Does anyone know anything about this?

[Mycroft]

I would say basically no (except very slightly possible on a localised basis). in general poisonous plants are toxic because they produce chemicals (usually as a method of detering insect attack) themselves. Although some toxic chemicals (including arsenic) can be concentrated by a plant, there would have to be an external source (typically soil). Arsenic compounds do occur naturally in some areas, but not normally in sufficient quantities to be toxic when concentrated, and pomegranate husks are essentailly inedible (definately not eaten routinely, as some fruit skins are)

[kjbrasda]

I have heard the same thing about apple seeds, and snopes actually has a page on the apple seeds anyway.
I also found a page that says lead hydrogen arsenate was used at one time as insecticide on fruit, and monosodium methyl arsenate is currently used in agriculture.

[Joostik]

Originally Posted by kjbrasda

I have heard the same thing about apple seeds, and snopes actually has a page on the apple seeds anyway.

The difference being that cyanide (as found in apple seeds) is an organic compound the plant itself can produce from (abundantly available) carbon and nitrogen. Arsenic OTOH is a (moderately rare) element for which the plant would need a specific source.

[kjbrasda]

But the UL I heard was arsenic in apple seeds (addressed in the snopes article) This UL could be similar, i.e. wrong chemical remembered.

[Joostik]

A quick search turns up some mention of pomegranade skin as a traditional medicine (internal and external), especially for skin care. Nothing about poison though.