Phoenix dactylifera L.: An Overview of Phytochemical Constituents and Impact on Women's Health.

Abstract

Genus Phoenix is one of the most common genera in the palm family (Arecaceae) with 17 species distributed around the world. Phoenix spp. have been used for centuries as food and medicine by different cultures. Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is the utmost significant, particularly in the Middle East and Arab World. This review displays the main phytochemical constituents of P. dactylifera anddescribes its impact on women's health from menarche to menopause, effects on fertility and during certain health conditions. Studies revealed that P. dactylifera is a valuable source of both primary and secondary metabolites including sugars, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, phytosterols, terpenes and sphingolipids, besides vitamins and minerals which is reflected on its wide array of pharmacologic activities viz. immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer activities. For millennia, P. dactylifera has been utilized for food and medicine, being justified by profuse studies. However, further research is still required to deeply understand their clinical implications, especially concerning women's health. Moreover, there are other Phoenix species that still need to be investigated to learn more about their undiscovered phytochemical components and biological activities.