Pomegranate phytobiotics offer natural alternative to synthetic veterinary drugs

Researchers have identified a broad range of biological properties in pomegranate with potential for use in medical applications, including antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, liver-supporting, and wound-healing effects. According to a new comprehensive review published in the peer-reviewed journal Veterinary Sciences, these properties are well-supported by the body of science for particular relevance in veterinary medicine, where antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance, oxidative stress, metabolic disorders, and the growing demand for sustainable alternatives to synthetic products represent major challenges.

The review, entitled "Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Veterinary Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacological Activities and Species-Specific Therapeutic Applications," provides an extensive synthesis of the current scientific evidence concerning the use of pomegranate and its derivatives. The authors examined evidence from poultry, ruminants, swine, fish, companion animals, and laboratory models, with particular attention to the pharmacological properties of pomegranate peel, peel extracts, seed oil, juice, and other plant-derived preparations. The literature search covered studies published between 1990 and June 2026 and incorporated evidence from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

Pomegranate has attracted considerable scientific interest because of its exceptionally rich phytochemical composition, which includes punicalagins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and punicic acid. 

The paper brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from leading academic, biomedical, and healthcare institutions. The study involves investigators affiliated with the Local Health Authority of Foggia (ASL Foggia), Temple University, the University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, the University of Siena, and the Sbarro Health Research Organization (SHRO) located at the Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology Temple University, reflecting an international and interdisciplinary collaboration at the interface of veterinary medicine, biomedical research, and translational science.

Pomegranate peel products show promising evidence in poultry, demonstrating improvements in production performance, antioxidant status, humoral immunity, and anticoccidial activity when incorporated into the diet. In ruminants, pomegranate preparations have demonstrated promising antiparasitic effects against gastrointestinal nematodes, while evidence also indicates potential benefits in preserving semen quality during cryopreservation. In aquaculture, pomegranate-derived preparations have shown antiparasitic activity against gill monogeneans, together with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Emerging evidence in companion animals further suggests potential applications in conditions such as leishmaniasis, inflammatory diseases, and wound management.

An important aspect of the review is its focus not only on the biological activities of pomegranate but also on its potential contribution to sustainable veterinary medicine. Pomegranate by-products, particularly the peel, are abundant agricultural and food-processing residues that retain substantial concentrations of bioactive compounds. Their valorisation as phytobiotic ingredients could therefore contribute to the development of alternative strategies for animal health while simultaneously supporting principles of resource efficiency and the circular economy. The authors highlight the relevance of this perspective in the context of increasing interest in natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters and synthetic antiparasitic agents.

Pomegranate represents a particularly compelling example of how traditional knowledge can be investigated through modern biomedical and veterinary science. Its complex phytochemical composition and the breadth of biological activities reported across different animal species indicate considerable translational potential." 

Antonio Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., Co-author, Professor, Temple University, and Founder and Director of SHRO

"However, the scientific challenge is now to move beyond promising experimental observations and establish standardised preparations, species-specific pharmacokinetic profiles, robust safety data, and well-designed clinical studies," Giordano says.

"The investigation of pomegranate-derived phytobiotics also creates an opportunity to connect animal health with sustainability and the circular economy," continues Giordano. "The emergence of pomegranate as an effective, and sustainable supplement contributes to the use of agricultural by-products into a potentially valuable resources. Within a One Health perspective, research of this type can help integrate animal health, sustainable food production, environmental considerations, and biomedical innovation."

Despite the encouraging evidence, the authors stress that significant gaps currently limit the immediate translation of pomegranate-based preparations into routine veterinary practice. One of the principal challenges is the substantial variability in the phytochemical composition of commercially available preparations, which may depend on cultivar, agricultural practices, post-harvest processing, extraction methodology, and storage conditions. The development of standardised veterinary-grade pomegranate preparations, with defined concentrations of key compounds such as punicalagin and ellagic acid, is therefore identified as an essential priority.

Another critical issue concerns the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of pomegranate-derived compounds. Ellagitannins such as punicalagin undergo gastrointestinal transformation and are metabolised by the intestinal microbiota into urolithins. Because gastrointestinal microbiota differ substantially among animal species, these processes may result in considerable interspecies differences in bioavailability and biological response. The review therefore calls for dedicated pharmacokinetic studies in ruminants, monogastric animals, and carnivores to establish appropriate species-specific dosing strategies.

The authors also emphasise the urgent need for well-designed controlled clinical trials in target animal species. Much of the existing evidence derives from in vitro experiments, laboratory models, or preclinical studies, whereas adequately powered studies in naturally infected or production-challenged animals remain limited. Clinical research will be essential to establish efficacy, minimum effective doses, safety margins, and practical treatment protocols.

The review additionally identifies innovative formulation strategies, including micro- and nano-encapsulation, as a promising avenue for improving the bioavailability and targeted delivery of pomegranate-derived compounds. Combination approaches involving pomegranate preparations and conventional pharmaceuticals or other phytobiotics may also warrant further investigation. Aquaculture is highlighted as a particularly interesting area for future research because of the demonstrated antiparasitic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of pomegranate-derived products and the need for environmentally compatible approaches to aquatic animal health.

Overall, Bava et al. conclude that Punica granatum represents one of the most pharmacologically versatile and scientifically promising phytobiotics currently investigated for veterinary applications. Its diverse biological activities may address several important challenges in contemporary animal health, including antimicrobial resistance, antiparasitic resistance, oxidative stress, and the search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic compounds. Nevertheless, the authors emphasise that the current evidence base remains heterogeneous and predominantly preclinical, making further rigorous investigation essential before pomegranate-derived products can be confidently recommended for routine veterinary use.

The study therefore proposes a veterinary translational pathway in which pomegranate-derived compounds progress from experimental discovery through standardisation, pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluation, formulation optimisation, and ultimately controlled clinical validation. Such an approach could help transform an ancient medicinal plant into a scientifically characterised and evidence-based resource for modern veterinary medicine.