Phytopharmacological Review on Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera Linn)

Abstract

Phoenix dactylifera Linn is known as date palm belonging to the Arecaceae family. This plant has various important medicinal uses such as reducing the swelling of foot, stress reducer, air purifier, treating allergies, preventing microbial infections, and improving brain function. Phytochemical analysis documented that the main bioactive compounds responsible for its medicinal effects are namely alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinone glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, flavanols, polyphenols, terpenoids, and saponins. Experiment from recent studies showed that various types of extracts from all parts of P. dactylifera exhibited a wide range of beneficial effects such as neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-bacterial, sedative, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperlipidemic. Therefore, further research must be conducted to isolate the phytochemicals and explore their specific mechanism of action. This review summarizes the morphology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal uses of this plant with the purpose of finding gaps demanding for future research and investigating its therapeutic potential through clinical trials.