Ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological potential of Punica granatum L. in Uzbekistan

Authors

  • Olim K. Khojimatov Tashkent Botanical Garden named after Academician F.N. Russanov at the Institute of Botany of Academy of Science of the Republic Uzbekistan, 100140, Bogishamol str., 232 B, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  • Alisher N. Khujanov Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, Institute of Biochemistry of Samarkand State University Named After Sharof Rashidov, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
  • Rainer W Bussmann Ilia State University, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Department of Ethnobotany, 1 Botanical Str., 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia and Department of Botany and Mycology, State Museum of Natural History, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • Nilufar Z. Mamadalieva The Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances named after acad. S.Yu. Yunusov of the Academy of Science of the Republic Uzbekistan 100170, Mirzo-Ulugbek Avenue, 77, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
  • Abdunazar E. Sharipov Termez State University, 43 Barkamol Avlod str., Termez, 190111, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Background: This study synthesizes ethnobotanical knowledge on the economically valuable species Punica granatum and emphasizes its potential applications in natural pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

Methods: The assessment of the distribution ranges of Punica granatum was carried out using the route-reconnaissance method widely applied in resource surveys. Field observations were conducted across all mountain regions of the Surkhandarya Province of Uzbekistan. Ethnobotanical data were collected through questionnaire surveys conducted during interviews with the local population. The survey was carried out with the informed consent of the respondents. The interviews were conducted in accordance with the International Society of Ethnobiology Code of Ethics (ISE Code of Ethics, 2006).

Results: Punica granatum is widely recognized for its ethnomedicinal applications. Its juice supports immune function, alleviates sore throat, regulates blood pressure, and provides cardioprotective effects. Dried peel, seeds, and seed membranes are used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, skin injuries, headaches, and nervous tension. These traditional uses underscore the potential of P. granatum for the development of natural medicines and nutraceuticals.

Conclusions: Ethnobotanical studies focused on the investigation of the valuable food and medicinal plant Punica granatum L. in its natural habitats in the mountainous regions of the Surkhandarya Province of Uzbekistan have shown that wild-growing forms, which are closely related to cultivated pomegranate, served as the primary source material for the development of numerous cultivated varieties differing in their organoleptic properties. In addition, various plant parts of pomegranate are widely used in traditional medicine, cosmetology, textile dyeing, and other applied fields.

Keywords: Punica granatum, pomegranate, wild relatives, ethnobotany, Red data book, Uzbekistan.

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Published

2026-07-17

How to Cite

Khojimatov, O. K., Khujanov, A. N., Bussmann, R. W., Mamadalieva, N. Z., & Sharipov, A. E. . (2026). Ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological potential of Punica granatum L. in Uzbekistan. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 35, 1–9. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/8520

Issue

Vol. 35 (2026)

Section

Notes on Ethnobotany

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