Pomegranate Seed Oil: a Comprehensive Review on Its Therapeutic Effects

Pomegranate, Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae), as a medicinal and nutritional ancient fruit, has an outstanding medical history throughout the world. Each of compartments of pomegranate has interesting pharmacological activity. Juice, leaf, flower, and peels of pomegranate possess potent antioxidant properties, while juice, peel and oil are all weakly estrogenic activity. Pomegranate seeds have ethnomedical indication and high conjugated α-linolenic acids (CLn) contents. Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) with high amount of punicic acid (PA), a conjugated isomer of α-linolenic acid, has variety of pharmacological properties. The main properties are as follows; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, enhancing the immune system, enhancing carbohydrate metabolism and reducing insulin resistance. Based on some studies, effects of PSO on lipid profile are controversial and consistency of data is rare to find yet. Therefore, this review is aimed to highlight the PSO’s composition and beneficial effects on human health and represent the mechanisms involved in its