From:  Biological activities of Punica granatum L. and the emerging role of metabolomics in enhancing its therapeutic potential: A narrative review

 Applications of pomegranate in various traditional medicines with clinical correlation.

DiseaseRemedies in traditional medicineRelated studiesReference(s)
Diseases of the head, neck and throat
  • Boil pomegranate rind in alcohol until it becomes soft, and apply its bandage around the ear to resolve otitis externa [12].

  • Fruit distillate mixed with honey and used as an ear drop relieves otalgia [12].

  • Use of the seeds or peels’ decoction as a mouthwash strengthens the gums and prevents bleeding [12].

Wound healing activity: Punica granatum L. flower extract, when applied to skin injuries induced by burns in rats, effectively decreased the wound size and induced fast healing.Nasiri et al. (2017) [53]
Cardiovascular disorders
  • Fruit distillate mixed with pomegranate pulp given along with Terminalia bellirica relieves palpitations and weakness of the heart due to choleric temperament [54].

Cardioprotective activity: Punica granatum L. extract reduces inflammatory markers and blood pressure among older adults and promotes healthy aging.Farhat et al. (2025) [55]
Diseases of the eye
  • Oral use of one flower bud daily for one year is effective in ocular pain [8, 9, 12].

  • Green leaves of the pomegranate tree, made into a paste and applied to the eyes, help treat conjunctivitis [8, 9, 12].

Anti-inflammatory activity: Topical application of pomegranate rind extract had significant anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, ameliorating cold sores and herpetic stromal keratitis.Houston et al. (2017) [56]
Gastro-intestinal disorders
  • Use of pomegranate water mixed with sugar relieves nausea [12].

  • Paste made up of pomegranate flowers and fresh grape leaves, applied over the abdomen, stops severe vomiting [9].

  • Pill prepared from sour pomegranate seeds, 36 g, long pepper, 18 g, black pepper, 5 g, potassium carbonate, 4 g, and sugar, given in a dose of 2–3 g twice daily, relieves dyspepsia [8].

  • Use of pomegranate water with honey is helpful in diarrhea [12].

  • Oral use of usara-e-anar (350 g) with sugar (50 g) is helpful in the expulsion of collected bile from the intestines [9].

  • Decoction prepared from pomegranate bark, 24 g, and mulberry, 24 g acts as anthelmintic [12].

  • The fresh root bark, 56 g, sliced & boiled in 946 mL of water, reduced to 473 mL and strained, used empty stomach in the morning every half-hour till 4 doses are taken, and then ingesting castor oil expels intestinal worms effectively [8].

Anti-emetic activity: Pomegranate and spearmint syrup have been found effective in NVP. Peel extract of Punica granatum L. exhibited antiemetic activity.
Antidiarrheal activity: Punica granatum L. peels showed similar efficacy as loperamide in an in vitro study.
Anti-helminthic activity: Extracts of bark and root of Punica granatum L. showed potential anthelmintic activity in an in vitro study.
Abdolhosseini et al. (2017) [57]
Ishtiyaq and Abbas (2018) [58]
Qnais et al. (2007) [59]
Baravkar et al. (2020) [60]
Diseases of the reproductive system
  • Sitz bath with the decoction of bark peel is useful in heavy menstrual bleeding and leucorrhea [12].

  • Pomegranate reduces the chances of premature and low birth weight infants [5].

Hypo androgenic activity: Pomegranate juice improves insulin resistance, BMI & WC in PCOS.
Neuroprotective property: Pomegranate juice helps protect against brain injury in IUGR babies.
Esmaeilinezhad et al. (2019) [61]
Ross et al. (2021) [62]
Skin diseases
  • Pomegranate imparts a glow to the face as it enhances the quality and quantity of blood [8, 12].

  • Sprinkling skin wounds with the fine powdered bark helps in fast healing [12].

  • In South Anatolia, Turkey, some people employ the ashes of the fruit peel as a protection against skin infections [9, 15].

Hemopoietic activity: Pomegranate juice improved the erythrocytes & mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels.
Antioxidant activity: Pomegranate peel extract acts as a potent free radical scavenger in albino rats.
Manthou et al. (2017) [63]
Chidambara et al. (2002) [64]
Bleeding disorders
  • The juice of pomegranate flower & doob grass (Cynodon dactylon), both in equal quantity, is useful in epistaxis, hemorrhages, ulcers of the uterus & rectum [9].

  • Applying paste of the rind over the chest is helpful in hemoptysis.

Anti-hemorrhagic activity: Punica granatum flower is as effective as tranexamic acid in heavy menstrual bleeding.Es-Haghee Ashteany et al. (2023) [65]
Goshtasebi et al. (2015) [66]

NVP: nausea vomiting of pregnancy; BMI: body mass index; WC: waist circumference; PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome; IUGR: intra-uterine growth retardation.