Pomegranate peel and its anticancer activity: A mechanism-based review

Abstract

Cancer is one of the prominent death causing diseases around the globe. About 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer and its related diseases. Cancer mortality can be reduced by early diagnosis and screening, implementing effective treatments. A precise cancer identification is vital for effective treatment, because each cancer type requires a definite treatment procedure, such as radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. The brisk expansion of herbal therapy and escalating ongoing clinical studies are becoming trendy and useful in the drug development against cancer. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a prehistoric fruit with illustrious dietary and remedial properties in alternative traditional systems of medicine. The current chapter is aiming to understand various model systems (in silico, in vitro, and in vivo), employed for studying its anti-cancerous properties and diverse molecular effects exhibited by the pomegranate peel and its phytoconstituents. It also highlights the importance of secondary metabolites of P. granatum, especially ellagitannins and their anticancer properties. Although there are enormous in vitro and preclinical data, human clinical trials are sorely lacking. The major focus is on up-to-date investigations into the outcomes of previously reported pomegranate peel components against a diverse type of cancers.