Anticancer Effects of Punicalagin

Side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, which are widely used today, negatively affect the cancer treatment process. In particular, the need for new treatments with less side effects but with higher therapeutic power is increasing day by day due to the resistance developing in patients against antineoplastic drugs and radiation therapy. From this point of view, natural compounds of plant origin attract attention because of their bioavailability, less side effects, and most importantly, because they can be either an auxiliary or an alternative treatment to traditional cancer treatments due to their low cost.
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a fruit that is abundant in our country, has anticancer bioactive components such as phenolic compounds, and has medicinal value. The pomegranate fruit peel that constitutes approximately 30% of the weight of pomegranate fruit, which is unfortunately discarded, is actually particularly rich in phenolic compounds such as Punicalagin (PN) and Ellagic acid (EA) and various minerals. There are studies revealing that PN has direct or indirect anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. Its positive effects on health and its non-toxic structure enable the multifunctional use of PN compound. In this review, the therapeutic use of PN phenolic compound as an anti-cancer agent is discussed.