Bioactive Compounds, Phytochemical Composition and Health-Promoting Properties of Cicer arietinum L: A Comprehensive Review

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and Its Bioactive Components: Composition, Biological Activities, and Applications in Food, Pharmaceutical, and Nutraceutical Fields Satyendra Kumar1*

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a nutritionally rich fruit widely recognized for its diverse therapeutic properties and extensive applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the composition, bioactive constituents, and biological activities of different parts of the fruit, including arils, seeds, and peel. Pomegranate is abundant in polyphenols such as ellagitannins (punicalagin and punicalin), ellagic acid, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which contribute significantly to its pharmacological effects. The arils are a rich source of sugars, vitamins, and antioxidants, exhibiting strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and prebiotic activities. Seeds contain bioactive lipids, particularly punicic acid, associated with anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. The peel, often considered agro-industrial waste, is highly enriched with phenolic compounds and demonstrates potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent advances in extraction techniques and nanoformulation strategies have further enhanced the bioavailability and applicability of these bioactive compounds. Overall, pomegranate and its by-products represent valuable natural resources with significant potential for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and therapeutic agents. Further research is required to optimize extraction methods, understand molecular mechanisms, and explore clinical applications.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) as a Sustainable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Extraction Technologies, and Industrial Applications

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) is a nutritionally valuable fruit renowned for its rich phytochemical composition and broad spectrum of biological activities. Owing to its significant therapeutic potential, pomegranate has attracted considerable attention in the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. This review comprehensively summarizes the phytochemical profile, bioactive constituents, and health-promoting properties of different fruit components, including the arils, seeds, and peel. Pomegranate is particularly rich in polyphenolic compounds such as ellagitannins (punicalagin and punicic acid), ellagic acid, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and other phenolic metabolites that contribute substantially to its pharmacological activities. The arils constitute a valuable source of natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, exhibiting potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and prebiotic effects. Pomegranate seeds contain bioactive lipids, especially punicic acid, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. The peel, which represents a major agro-industrial by-product, is exceptionally rich in phenolic compounds and displays remarkable antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive activities. Recent advances in extraction technologies, encapsulation approaches, and nano formulation strategies have significantly improved the stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy of pomegranate-derived bioactive compounds, thereby expanding their potential industrial and biomedical applications. Furthermore, valorising pomegranate processing by-products offers a sustainable approach for developing high-value functional ingredients and reducing environmental waste. Overall, pomegranate and its by-products represent promising natural resources for developing functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and novel therapeutic formulations. Future research should focus on optimizing extraction processes, elucidating molecular mechanisms of action, enhancing clinical translation, and exploring innovative applications of pomegranate-derived bioactives in health and disease management.

Functional, phytochemical, nutraceutical, and therapeutic properties and potentials of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f.)

With the increasing search for existing and emerging natural sources of foods, nutrients and bioactive compounds with functional, nutraceutical, healing and medicinal functions, this study aims at evaluating the roles of Telfairia occidentalis Hook. f. in helping to meet this growing demand. This study reviewed recent studies on the nutritional, phytochemical, therapeutic, medicinal, nutraceutical, functional, and healing properties of Telfairia occidentalis and its seeds, leaves, fruits, and whole plant. Their roles in the treatment/management of many diseases, such as their neuro-protective, hepatoprotective, antioxidants, anti-ulcer, pro-reproduction, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and pharmaceutical properties. Telfairia occidentalis and its seeds, leaves and fruits are excellent sources of vitamins, protein, minerals, essential amino acids, fats and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and important phytochemicals, all of which play important roles in health and disease prevention/treatment. These interesting properties of Telfairia occidentalis can be adequately explored for important applications in nutrition and dietetics, medicine, pharmacy, food production, formulation of dietary supplements, and development of therapeutics and nutraceuticals. Potential health effects of fluted pumpkin include neuro-protective, hepatoprotective, antioxidants, anti-ulcer, pro-reproduction, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and pharmaceutical properties

Effect of processing interventions on the nutrition, anti-nutritional factors, functional properties, and product development prospects of buckwheat

Bioactive compounds of dragon fruit peel: roles of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, betalains and vitamin C in modulating fish growth, antioxidant defense, and immunity: a sustainable nutraceutical approach for enhancing aquaculture health and disease resistance

This review focuses on the major bioactive phytochemicals present in dragon fruit peel, namely phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, and betalains, along with the essential nutrient vitamin C, providing a comprehensive overview of these components, including their chemical characteristics and functional roles in fish nutrition when incorporated into diets.

Honey as a functional food: composition, bioactive compounds, health benefits and applications

Honey is a natural bee-derived product that has been valued for centuries as both a food and a traditional remedy. While its composition is dominated by carbohydrates, accumulating evidence suggests that many of its health-promoting properties may be substantially influenced by its minor non-glucidic constituents, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, proteins, organic acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physicochemical composition of honey and critically examines the relationship between its bioactive constituents and its biological activities. Particular attention is given to the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antidiabetic, antiviral, and anticancer properties of honey, as supported by experimental and clinical studies. Emerging evidence indicating that honey and its phenolic-rich fractions may protect against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity and inhibit protein glycation is also discussed, suggesting a potential contribution of the non-glucidic fraction to mechanisms relevant to the prevention of oxidative stress-related and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, recent advances supporting the characterization of honey as a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) are reviewed. This emerging concept provides a potential mechanistic framework for understanding how honey may influence the extraction, stabilization, transport, and bioavailability of certain phytochemicals, although these effects remain dependent on the specific compound–honey system and experimental conditions. Collectively, the available evidence supports the view that honey is not merely a natural sweetener but rather a complex bioactive matrix with potential applications in functional foods, nutrition, and the development of bioactive formulations, while further clinical validation is required.