Hatice Asli Bedel, Nur Tukel Turgut, Aysegul Ugur Kurtoglu, Coskun Usta

Abstract

Plant extracts and nutraceuticals are the most ancient and widespread form of medication among the general population. The pomegranate is an prehistoric, mystical and highly different fruit. Moreover pomegranate is found in some medicinal systems for a variety of illnesses. Pomegranate has been used for a long time for nutraceutical purposes. Current researches seem to demonstrate that the most medicinal useful pomegranate components are ellagitannins, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, estrogenic flavonols and flavones. Also pomegranate seed oil contains 64-83% punicic acid. Therefore, in this review we mention about effects of punicic acid, particularly anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antidiabetic effects. As we mentioned above nutraceuticals have a major role in the mechanism and prophylaxis of various diseases, punicic acid is an important and rising star among these agents. These agents are safe to use and show much less side effects. In spite of all these studies it is obvious that more clinical studies and new application areas are needed.