A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE ANTHELMINTIC POTENTIAL OF PUNICA GRANATUM (POMEGRANATE)

Helminthic diseases remain a major global health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where inadequate sanitation and limited access to healthcare contribute to widespread parasitic infections. More than 1.5 billion individuals are affected worldwide, resulting in chronic anemia, nutritional deficiencies, reduced cognitive ability, and impaired growth among children.[1] While synthetic anthelmintics are widely prescribed, their long-term use is challenged by emerging resistance, adverse drug reactions, and reduced availability in rural populations.[2–4] These limitations have led to renewed scientific interest in herbal alternatives with broad-spectrum activity and fewer side effects. Punica granatum L. (pomegranate)—a medicinal plant valued across Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Middle Eastern healing systems—has shown promising anthelmintic activity. Its peel, bark, and fruit are rich in alkaloids (such as pelletierine), polyphenols (including punicalagin), ellagitannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which collectively produce antiparasitic effects through neuromuscular inhibition, structural disruption of the worm cuticle, suppression of energy metabolism, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).[11–20] This review provides a detailed overview of the botany, traditional uses, chemical composition, mechanisms of action, laboratory studies, clinical evidence, formulation advances, and future prospects of P. granatum as a natural anthelmintic. Fifty credible sources with web links support the information presented.