The medicinal plants of Myanmar Author DeFilipps, Robert A. Deceased Author Krupnick, Gary A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1357-4826 Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC- 166, Washington, DC, 20013 - 7012, USA krupnick@si.edu text PhytoKeys 2018 2018-06-28 102 1 341 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.102.24380 1314-2003-102-1 AA226A35FFF8FFBC37621A40C2518C67 1306325 Punica granatum L. Names. Myanmar : thale . English : pomegranate. Range. Southeastern Europe to South Asia. Also naturalized, and widespread in cultivation. Conservation status. Least Concern [LC] ( IUCN 2017 ). Uses. Fruit : Used as an anthelmintic and astringent. Notes. The plant is widely cultivated for its edible fruit and medicinal uses: The bark is used in a gargle for sore throat, bad breath, and as a wash for nosebleed (for the first two illnesses a decoction of the rind is used); a decoction of tender leaves serves as a gargle and another of the leaves and roots is drunk as a remedy for irregular menses; a plaster of the crushed leaves is applied to itch; crushed stem is similarly used; the fruit is rich in tannin (and thus astringent); a decoction of the rinds or fruit is used for diarrhea and dysentery and may also be applied as a wash or an injection against hemorrhoid and leucorrhea; the buds, flowers, and bark of the flowers mixed with sesame oil makes a dressing for burns; the fruit is both bechic and laxative; the root bark is used throughout the East as a specific for tapeworm, and is also anthelmintic against other intestinal worms ( Perry 1980 ). The medicinal uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991) . Medicinal uses of the species in China are discussed by Duke and Ayensu (1985) . Chemical constituents, pharmacological action, and medicinal use of this species in Indian Ayurveda are discussed in detail by Kapoor (1990) . Indigenous medicinal uses of this species in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India) are described by Dagar and Singh (1999) . The bark contains the alkaloids pelletierine, isopelletierine, methylpelletierine, pseudopelletierine, and considerable tannin; it has also been reported that the plant has a bacteriostatic effect ( Perry 1980 ). Seeds and leaves of Punica granatum contain the hepatotoxic compound punicalagin, an oestrogenic chemical known as oestrone, and a form of pelletierine which is used for the expulsion of tapeworms ( Lan et al.1998 ). The chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, and traditional medicinal uses of this plant on a worldwide basis are discussed in detail by Ross (1999) . A pharmacognostical profile including medicinal uses of this plant in Africa is given in Iwu (1993) . Data on the propagation, seed treatment and agricultural management of this species are given by Katende et al. (1995) . Details of the active chemical compounds, effects, herbal usage and pharmacological literature of this plant are given in Fleming (2000) . References. Nordal (1963) , Perry (1980) .