Pomegranate advances from remedy to potential phytobiotic in veterinary medicine

A comprehensive review highlights pomegranate’s potential as a natural alternative to antibiotics and antiparasitics in veterinary medicine, amid rising resistance concerns.

Pomegranate is moving from traditional remedy to a candidate phytobiotic for veterinary medicine, according to a comprehensive review in Veterinary Sciences. The paper says the fruit and its by-products may offer antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, liver-supporting and wound-healing effects, with possible uses across poultry, ruminants, swine, fish and companion animals.

The review draws on studies published between 1990 and June 2026 and highlights the appeal of pomegranate peel, seeds, juice and seed oil at a time when animal health sectors are grappling with antimicrobial and anthelmintic resistance, oxidative stress and pressure to find alternatives to synthetic inputs.

Earlier work cited in the review found pomegranate peel extract to have anticoccidial, anthelmintic and antioxidant activity in poultry, while other studies point to benefits in broiler performance, lipid metabolism and inflammation control.

But the authors caution that routine use remains premature. They say commercially available products vary widely in composition and that pharmacokinetic, safety and efficacy data are still thin. Standardisation, species-specific dosing and controlled clinical trials will be needed before pomegranate-based preparations can be recommended with confidence.

For now, the clearest case is strategic: a waste stream from food processing may yet become a scientifically validated tool in sustainable animal health.

Reference: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in Veterinary Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacological Activities and Species-Specific Therapeutic Applications.
Vet. Sci.2026, 13(8), 832;
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13080832