Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed: A review on nutritional profile, functional food properties, health benefits, and safety aspects

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L) is a superfruit with long medicinal history across the world as a healthy and nourishing ancient fruit. The principal waste generated by the processing of pomegranate fruit is a considerable number of seeds, and the disposal of this debris becomes an environmental problem. Pomegranate seeds residues (PSR) possess a high concentration of phytochemicals (a-tocopherols, polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins) and an excellent source of crude fibers. About 7-27% of the total seed weight is composed of pomegranate seed oil (PSO), which contains a high amount of conjugated fatty acids, mainly punicic acid (PA) and linolenic acid, which have various pharmacological applications. The main properties are antioxidant, anticancer, nephroprotective, reducing insulin resistance, antiatherogenic, antidiabetic, memory effects, estrogenic, and dental effects. Therefore, this review presents a detailed nutritional profile, primary and secondary metabolites in dried pomegranate seed residue and oil and their mechanisms of action in pharmacological and clinical applications.