Abolfazl Shakeri, Mohammad Reza Zirak and Amirhossein Sahebkar* Pages 106 - 122 ( 17 )
Background: Naturally occurring polyphenols are the subject of increasing attention due to their potent antioxidant activity and their marked effects on the prevention of various oxidative stress-associated diseases such as cancer. Ellagic acid (EA) is an herbal polyphenol that is structurally a condensed dimer of gallic acid.
Methods: This review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated overview on the biological activities of EA and potential therapeutic applications.
Results: EA is found in fruits and nuts, either in the combined form with hexahydroxydiphenic acid or in the bound form (ellagitannins). EA exhibits many biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer and apoptosis-inducing activities. These biological and pharmacological properties are relevant to the treatment of several human diseases.
Conclusion: Owing to its multiple mechanisms of action, EA represents a potential therapeutic agent against human diseases particularly cancer.
Polyphenol, ellagic acid, pharmacology, phytomedicine, gallic acid, antioxidant.
Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad