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Bioactive Compounds and Pharmacological Potential of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Seeds - A Review

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Abstract

The use of complementary medicine has recently increased in an attempt to find effective alternative therapies that reduce the adverse effects of drugs. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) by-products, such as seeds, is a rich source of phytochemicals with a high antioxidant activity, thus possessing health benefits. For the identification and quantification of the pomegranate seeds chemical compounds, particular attention has been drawn to the latest developments in the HPLC coupling with electrospray ionization (ESI) MS/MS detection. In fact, a wide range of phytochemicals including phenolic acid, anthocyanins, flavonoids, hydrolysable tannins and other polyphenols were characterized. Furthermore, an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on pomegranate seeds on biomedicine and pharmacotherapy was carried out. Indeed, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated how pomegranate seeds possess antioxidant, anti- cardiovascular diseases, anti-osteoporosis, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. The present review describes a recent tendency in research focusing on the chemical and biomedical features of the pomegranate seeds to value them as natural additives or active compounds for first-order diseases.

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Abbreviations

2-ME:

2-methoxyestradiol

ALAT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

ASAT:

Aspartate aminotransferase

BMD:

Bone mineral density

CAE:

Catechin equivalents

CAT:

Catalase

CGE:

Cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents

CVD:

Cardiovascular diseases

DMBA:

7,12-dimethyl benz(a)anthracene

DOX:

Doxorubicin

DW:

Dry weight DXM: Dexamethasone

FBS:

Fasting blood glucose

FM:

Fresh matter

FW:

Fresh weight

GAE:

Gallic acid equivalent

GC-MS:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GSH:

Glutathione

HADMSC:

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

HFD:

High-fat-high fructose diet

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

OVX:

Ovariectomized

PA:

Punic acid

PDM:

Defatted pomegranate seed meals

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

PE:

Pomegranate emulsion containing seed oil

PJ:

Pomegranate juice

PS:

Pomegranate seeds

PSO:

Pomegranate seed oil

PSR:

Pomegranate seeds residue

RE:

Rutin equivalent

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TAE:

Tannic acid equivalent

TFC:

Total flavonoid content

TG:

Total triglycerides

TPC:

Total phenolic content

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Program contract 2015-2018 (LR15CBS05)).

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Leila Mahfoudhi, Teacher of English in The Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, for proofreading and polishing the language of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbial, Enzymatic Biotechnology and Biomolecules (LBMEB), Center of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax-Tunisia, Road of Sidi Mansour Km 6, P. O. Box 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Mariam Fourati, Slim Smaoui, Khaoula Elhadef, Ahlem Chakchouk Mtibaa & Lotfi Mellouli

  2. Laboratoire de Génie Enzymatique et de Microbiologie, Equipe de Biotechnologie des Algues, Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Sfax, Université de Sfax, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

    Hajer Ben Hlima

  3. Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia

    Olfa Ben Braïek

  4. Laboratory of Amelioration and Protection of Olive Genetic Resources, Olive Tree Institute, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia

    Karim Ennouri

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  1. Mariam Fourati
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Correspondence to Slim Smaoui.

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Fourati, M., Smaoui, S., Hlima, H.B. et al. Bioactive Compounds and Pharmacological Potential of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Seeds - A Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 75, 477–486 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-020-00863-7

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