A review on pistachio: Its composition and benefits regarding the prevention or treatment of diseases

Background: The pistachio is a nut produced by about 20 species of shrub. Present-day studies show the health benefits of pistachio in preventing or treating diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS), and erectile dysfunction. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE / PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched using the keywords of Pistacia vera, Pistacio, chemical composition, anticancer, anti-inflammation, antidiabetic, and antioxydative. Relevant articles published in the last decade were identified and reviewed. Results: The chemical composition (macronutrients, micronutrients) of pistachio and the main outcomes of treatment with pistachio species were categorized. The possible mechanisms of action of treatment with pistachio species are discussed in this article. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the beneficial effects of nuts such as pistachio on health, lipid profile, and diseases. Conclusions: It is commonly believed that pistachio can be used in the prevention and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer, inflammatory diseases, and MS. This study showed that nuts such as pistachio have many beneficial effects on health, and can be used for controlling different diseases. It seems that the pistachio may have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemia, and anti-proliferation effects and may be recommended for the prevention, improvement, or treatment of diseases such as diabetes, CVD, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), cancer, and MS.