The Therapeutic Efficacy of Punica granatum and Its Bioactive Constituents with Special Reference to Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Punica granatum (P. granatum) is a fruit-bearing tree from the Punicaceae family, indigenous to Iran. This plant has healing qualities that have drawn the interest of the medical community as an alternative treatment for malignancies and non-malignancies. Its healing quality is due to the phytochemicals present in the plant. These include ellagic acid, punicic acid, phenols, and flavonoids. In traditional medicine, P. granatum has been used in treating diseases such as dysentery, bleeding disorders, leprosy, and burns. This review explores the effects of the phytochemical constituents of P. granatum on photodynamic therapy for cancer, chronic inflammation, osteoarthritis, and viral infections. Its antioxidant and antitumor effects play a role in reduced free radical damage and cancer cell proliferation. It was concluded that P. granatum has been used for many disease conditions for a better therapeutic outcome. This paper will give visibility to more studies and expand the knowledge on the potential use of P. granatum in photodynamic cancer treatment.

Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Agroindustrial Waste and Byproducts: Results and Perspectives According to the Green Chemistry and Circular Economy

“…149 Goḿez-Caravaca and co-workers, identified five principal anthocyanin-flavanols, including afzelechin-delphinidin-3-O-hexoside and gallocatechin-cyanidin-3-O-hexoside, whose presence in pomegranate was described also by Sentandreu at very low concentrations. 153,154 The juice contains organic acid as chlorogenic acid, citric acid, and gallic acid and flavonoids as quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside 155 but also low quantities of hydrolyzable tannins including ellagitannins and gallotannins, such as punicalagin and punicalin, and numerous galloyl es- ters. 149,150,153 The seeds and seed oil contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.…”

“…The juice contains organic acid as chlorogenic acid, citric acid, and gallic acid and flavonoids as quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol-3- O -glucoside but also low quantities of hydrolyzable tannins including ellagitannins and gallotannins, such as punicalagin and punicalin, and numerous galloyl esters. ,, The seeds and seed oil contain high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The seeds exhibit antioxidant capacity due to the presence of polyphenols as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid, and syringic acid .…”

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Potentials of African Medicinal Fruits: A Comprehensive Review

“…According to ancient Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese folk medicine, extracts and formulations made from the fruit, bark, juice, root, and dried peels have extensively been used over generations for treating ulcers, diarrhea, male infertility, diabetes, dysentery, intestinal parasites, malaria, bacterial and fungal infections, sore throats, coughs, urinary infections, digestive disorders, skin disorders, arthritis, and many more [ 287 , 288 ]. Among all of the reported fruits in this review, P. granatum is one of the most extensively researched fruits for its anticancer activities.…”

“…Among all of the reported fruits in this review, P. granatum is one of the most extensively researched fruits for its anticancer activities. Because of the richness of phytochemicals, like anthocyanins, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids bioactive compounds, the whole fruit, including peels, pericarp, seeds, and juice, have been studied, reported, and reviewed for their anticancer efficacy against several cancer types [ 285 , 288 , 289 , 290 ].…”

Antimicrobial efficacy of Punica granatum Lythraceae peel extract against pathogens belonging to the ESKAPE group

“…In addition, several studies demonstrate that polyphenols modulate the human immune system by influencing the activation and proliferation of white blood cells as well as the production of cytokines involved in immunological defense ( John et al, 2011 ). Among the different natural compounds studied for their beneficial properties in the medical field, the attention on the bioactive components present in various parts of the Punica granatum Lythraceae ( L. ) (pomegranate) plant has increased in recent years ( Fakudze et al, 2022 ). The beneficial effects of the pomegranate fruit reside in the juice but also in secondary components such as the peel, seeds, leaves, and flowers of the tree ( Kanatt et al, 2010 ).…”