A Review on Biochemical Constituents and Medicinal Properties of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Pomegranate is a fruit-bearing plant belongs to punicaceae with long time antiquity cultivation. Its origin is Iran and surrounding countries and found as wild and cultivated in most regions of Iran. Different part of the plant such as seed, peel, juice, flower, leaves, bark and roots have various biochemical constituents that show different pharmacological activities. The chemical composition of fruits differs depending on the cultivar, growing region, climate, maturity, cultural practice and storage. Pomegranate contain high levels of polyphenols, sugars, fatty acids, aromatic compounds, amino acids, tocopherols, sterols, terpenoids, alkaloids etc. During recent years, various studies were done on antioxidants, anticancers, anti inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate constituents in order to treat and prevent cancers, cardiovascular disease, bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance and dentistry. In this review, it tried to introduce chemical constituents of the plant as well as the most recent scientific founding focusing on mechanisms and key reactions resulting to them.