D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
461
In e na ional Jou nal o Medical
and Pha maceu ical Resea ch
Online ISSN-2958-3683 | P in ISSN-2958-3675
F equency: Bi-Mon hly
A ailable online on: h ps://ijmp .in/
O iginal A icle
Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu
Heal h
D . Sha adendu Bali
MBBS, MS, PhD, P o esso Gene al Su ge y, TMU, Mo adabad
A B S T R A C T
Co esponding Au ho :
D . Sha adendu Bali
MBBS, MS, PhD, P o esso Gene al
Su ge y, TMU, Mo adabad.
ORCID no : 0000-0002-5928-623X
Recei ed: 15-10-2025
Accep ed: 13-11-2025
A ailable online: 18-11-2025
Pomeg ana e (Ana dana) he bal balls a e a adi ional Sou h-Asian nu aceu ical
made om d ied pomeg ana e seeds (Punica g ana um) mixed wi h cumin, ennel,
black peppe , d ied ginge , d ied un ipe mango powde (amchu ), ock sal , black
sal , and lemon juice. Pomeg ana e seed is he main ing edien , which con ains
polyphenols and punicic acid ha ha e been ound o enhance mi ophagy, limi NF-
κB-media ed neu o-in lamma ion, and imp o e cogni ion in 5XFAD mice models
and in p ion models. In clinical ials, some o he ing edien s o he bon-bons we e
obse ed o educe le els o as ing glucose and in lamma o y ma ke s in diabe ic
pa ien s. Addi ionally, bioac i es in Zingibe o icinale (ginge ols, shogaols,
essen ial-oil e penes) ac i a e AMPK, inhibi he NLRP3 in lammasome, and
elie e dysmeno hoea, nausea, os eoa h i ic pain, and insulin esis ance in
humans. Also, ennel compounds (ane hole, osma inic acid) ha e been
demons a ed o sca enge eac i e oxygen species, modula e GABAe gic signaling,
ease in an ile colic and hi su ism, and p o ec he myoca dium and li e in animal
s udies. Besides, he cuminaldehyde om cumin down- egula es α-glucosidase
ac i i y and blood-p essu e genes, whe eas pipe ine om black peppe inc eases
d ug bioa ailabili y, imp o es me abolic-synd ome ma ke s, and educes α-
synuclein agg ega ion. Mo eo e , he mangi e in- ich amchu , iphala- o i ied
black sal (a die a y sou ce o H₂S), and polyphenol- ich lemon juice add u he
an ioxidan and an imic obial ac ions. This e iew assesses he po en ial
neu op o ec i e p ope ies, a ou able e ec s on he gu mic obiome and o he
b oade physiological bene i s o Ana dana-based he bal balls by connec ing
adi ional he bal knowledge wi h mode n medical science.
Copy igh © In e na ional Jou nal o
Medical and Pha maceu ical Resea ch
Keywo ds: Ana dana Bon-bons; Punica g ana um seeds; neu op o ec ion; he bal
candies; ood-based nu aceu ical, gu mic obiome.
INTRODUCTION
He bal p epa a ions ha e been u ilized as p e en i e and he apeu ic measu es ac oss Sou h Asia o cen u ies. Some
he bal o mula ions ha e e ol ed cul u ally in o delec ables and desse s, o ming a pa o li e o child en and adul s.
One such example is he ubiqui ous a ailabili y o as y swee -sou he bal candy balls o mula ed om d ied Punica
g ana um seeds, alongwi h o he condimen s, used mainly as diges i e s imulan s [1,2]. These angy, spice-en iched bon-
bons (small candy balls) ha e been commonly sa o ed as un candies by child en [Figu e 1]. The composi ion comp ises
a syne gis ic mix u e o bo anical and mine al ing edien s, including ana dana (pomeg ana e seeds), cumin, ennel, black
peppe , d ied ginge powde , amchu (d ied mango powde ), ock sal , black sal , and lemon juice. Each one o hese
ing edien s exe s speci ic pha macological e ec s ha ha e bene icial e ec s on mul iple issues si es.
Though commonly hese spicy balls a e conside ed o be mainly s omachic aids, a p o usion o p e-clinical and clinical
s udies show ha he indi idual ing edien s also p o ide an ioxidan , an i-in lamma o y, me abolic, ca diop o ec i e, and
neu op o ec i e bene i s. The wide ange o bioac i e cons i uen s con ained in he adi ional ing edien s a e he
unde lying de e minan s o he heal h-p omo ing e ec s o Ana dana-based he bal balls. Whe he de i ed om ui s,
spices, o mine al sou ces, each componen o e s po en ial physiological bene i s ha enhance he o e all heal h and
wellness. Recen scien i ic s udies ha e con i med ha he bio-ac i e compounds p esen in each ing edien exhibi a
wide ange o he apeu ic e ec s. The combined ac ion o hese cons i uen s suppo s he po en ial o Ana dana he bal
D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
462
balls as a b oad-spec um nu aceu ical. This a icle p esen s a s uc u ed analysis o he cu en e idence ega ding
biological ac i i y, unde lying mechanisms, and possible con ibu ions o neu ological, and diges i e, me abolic,
ca dio ascula , enal, immune, and musculoskele al unc ions o each ing edien .
T adi ional Uses and Bioac i e Compounds con ained in he ing edien s
Pomeg ana e (Punica g ana um L.), a deciduous sh ub na i e o he Middle Eas and Sou h Asia, has been used in
adi ional medicine sys ems including Chinese, Uyghu , and Tibe an, o managing gas oin es inal ailmen s such as
dia hea, dyspepsia, and in lamma o y in es inal diseases. The seeds, known as ana dana when d ied, a e ecognized o
hei as ingen p ope ies and ha e been u ilized in adi ional Tibe an emedies o suppo diges i e heal h. Cu en
e idence sugges s ha ana dana may in luence me abolic egula ion, neu ological unc ion, and in lamma o y p ocesses,
highligh ing i s po en ial as a mul i unc ional heal h-suppo i e agen . Pomeg ana e seeds a e ich in a a ie y o
bioac i e cons i uen s. The dominan lipid componen is punicic acid, a a y acid which is a unique isome o conjuga ed
linolenic acid, and accoun s o up o 76% o o al seed oil. O he no able compounds include polyunsa u a ed a y acids
(linoleic, oleic), ocophe ols (α-, γ-), and phy os e ols such as β-si os e ol and campes e ol. The seeds also con ain
signi ican le els o polyphenols (ellagic acid, gallic acid, e ulic acid), la onoids (ca echin, que ce in, kaemp e ol),
an hocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin), and hyd olysable annins. P o eins such as globulins and albumins
along wi h essen ial amino acids (glu amine, leucine, lysine) also con ibu e o he nu i ional and he apeu ic po en ial o
pomeg ana e seeds [3].
Figu e 1. Child en enjoying Pomeg ana e Bon-bons
Ginge (Zingibe o icinale), a lowe ing plan belonging o he Zingibe aceae amily, has a long-s anding his o y o use
in adi ional medical sys ems ac oss Asia, including Ayu eda, Unani and Chinese. The hizome o ginge is he
p ima y medicinal pa , adi ionally used o add ess diges i e diso de s, gu in lamma ion, and nausea. Mode n
pha macological esea ch has con i med many o hese uses, wi h ginge now ecognized o i s b oad he apeu ic
ac ions, including gas oin es inal, an ieme ic, analgesic, an i-in lamma o y, an ioxidan , me abolic, neu op o ec i e, and
ca diop o ec i e unc ions. I s ac i e cons i uen s ha e been isola ed and e alua ed ex ensi ely in bo h p eclinical and
clinical se ings, leading o he iden i ica ion o mul iple bioac i e molecules esponsible o i s heal h bene i s. Among
he biologically ac i e compounds ha con ibu e o i s he apeu ic e icacy, phenolic compounds and ola ile oils a e o
p ima y impo ance. The main phenolic componen s include ginge ols, pa icula ly 6-ginge ol (6-GN), 8-ginge ol, and
10-ginge ol, as well as hei dehyd a ed p oduc s, shogaols (p ima ily 6-shogaol o 6-SG), which a e o med du ing
d ying o hea p ocessing [4]. Zinge one and pa adols a e o he impo an phenolics o med du ing s o age o
me abolism. Among ola ile oils, zingibe ene, β-sesquiphelland ene, camphene, and cu cumene domina e he essen ial
oil ac ion, con ibu ing o he a oma ic and he apeu ic p ope ies.
Fennel (Foeniculum ulga e), a pe ennial he b om he Apiaceae amily, is na i e o he Medi e anean egion and
widely cul i a ed o culina y and medicinal pu poses. I has been used in adi ional medical sys ems o ea ing
gas oin es inal discom o , in ec ions, and ho monal imbalances. The pha macological ac i i ies o ennel a e a ibu ed
o i s di e se phy ochemical cons i uen s, including essen ial oils, phenolic acids, and la onoids. Majo bioac i e
compounds include ola ile oils such as ane hole, es agole, enchone, limonene, and p-anisaldehyde. I also con ains
a y acids including linoleic acid, oleic acid, and couma ins such as scopole in and dillapional. Mo eo e , he la onoids
and phenolic cons i uen s include que ce in, kaemp e ol, osma inic acid, and ca eoylquinic acid [5].
D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
463
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), an a oma ic membe o he Apiaceae amily, is adi ionally known o i s diges i e and
ca mina i e p ope ies. I has shown po en ial bene i s in managing me abolic synd ome, in lamma o y s a es,
ca dio ascula diseases, in ec ions, and cance . These e ec s a e la gely due o i s essen ial oil componen s, pa icula ly
cuminaldehyde, which cons i u es app oxima ely 48.8% o he oil [6]. Addi ional cons i uen s like e penes, la onoids,
and phenolic acids u he suppo he pha macological po en ial o cumin.
Black peppe (Pipe nig um) is a widely used culina y spice and adi ional medicinal plan known o i s wide ange o
pha macological p ope ies. I has long been used in a ious adi ional healing sys ems, including Ayu eda and
adi ional Chinese medicine, o ea ing diges i e diso de s, espi a o y ailmen s, and pain. The biological e ec s o
black peppe a e a ibu ed la gely o i s unique chemical composi ion, pa icula ly i s alkaloid and phenolic cons i uen s,
which modula e molecula a ge s and signaling pa hways. The majo bioac i e cons i uen o black peppe is pipe ine, a
ni ogen-con aining alkaloid ha exhibi s a b oad spec um o he apeu ic e ec s, including an ioxidan , an i-
in lamma o y, neu op o ec i e, an icance , and bioenhancing ac i i ies. O he no able compounds include pipe ic acid
and essen ial oil cons i uen s such as β-ca yophyllene, sabinene, limonene, and pinene. Addi ionally, black peppe
con ains phenolic compounds such as 3,4-dihyd oxyphenyl e hanol glucosides [7].
D ied un ipe mango powde (Amchu ) is a adi ional culina y spice de i ed om un ipe g een mangoes (Mangi e a
indica), commonly used in Sou h Asian cuisine. Beyond i s la o ing p ope ies, amchu is used in adi ional medicine
sys ems o i s diges i e, an idiabe ic, and an ioxidan e ec s. I s heal h-p omo ing po en ial is linked o he p esence o a
ange o bioac i e phy ochemicals p esen in he esh ui , pa icula ly in he un ipe pulp and peel. Amchu e ains his
concen a ed p o ile o phy ochemicals ound in un ipe mangoes, including mangi e in (a C-glucosyl xan hone),
phenolic acids (gallic acid, ellagic acid, and e ulic acid), la onoids (que ce in, ca echins and epica echins) , and
ca o enoids (β-ca o ene) [8,9].
Black sal , also known as Kala Namak, is a adi ional he bal sal widely used in Ayu edic medicine and Indian snacks.
Unlike egula able sal , black sal is ich in sul u -con aining compounds, con ibu ing o i s cha ac e is ic pungen
a oma and po en ial heal h bene i s . The h ee my obalans (T iphala), namely Phyllan hus emblica (Amla), Te minalia
chebula (Ha ad), and Te minalia belle ica (Baheda), a e inco po a ed in o he sal by i ing in b ick kilns, and each
con ibu es addi ional bioac i e unc ions. The he apeu ic p ope ies o black sal a e a ibu ed o bo h i s ino ganic
sul u compounds and he plan -de i ed phy ochemicals p esen in T iphala. The sulphu compounds include hyd ogen
sul ide (H₂S) p ecu so s such as Na₂S, FeS and sodium bisul a e (NaHSO₄), polyphenols such as gallic acid, ellagic acid,
que ce in, and ca echins om Amla and Baheda [10]. Also, i con ains annins (p esen in Ha ad and Baheda) and
mangi e in (a po en an ioxidan om Amla). Mo eo e , o he nu ien s like high po assium con en a e also p esen in
black sal [11].
Lemon juice (Ci us limon) is ich in a wide ange o bioac i e compounds ha con ibu e o i s mul iple
pha macological ac i i ies. Phy ochemical analysis o indigenous a ie ies such as Lisbon, Eu eka, May e, and Bush has
e ealed signi ican amoun s o phenolic con en s, la onoids, and i amin C, along wi h low bu de ec able ca o enoids
[12]. Fu he mo e, de ailed p o iling showed ha C. limon juice con ains la onoids such as hespe idin, na ingin,
apigenin, diosme in, lu eolin, que ce in, and iso hamne in; phenolic acids like e ulic and synapic acids; i amins A, B1,
B2, and B3; and couma ins, ca boxylic acids, ca bohyd a es, and amino acids. E ioci in is pa icula ly abundan in
lemon compa ed o o he Ci us species. Addi ional s udies ha e also con i med he p esence o alkaloids, s e oids,
e penoids, saponins, ca diac glycosides, and educing suga s in lemon juice. T adi ionally, lemon juice has been widely
used ac oss Ayu edic, Unani, and Wes e n he bal adi ions o ea scu y, e e s, so e h oa s, high blood p essu e,
diges i e p oblems, and heuma ism. In Indian, Ca ibbean, and Medi e anean olk medicine, i was also used o p omo e
mens ua ion, elie e coughs, ea kidney s ones, and suppo wound healing. Mix u es o lemon juice wi h oils o
alcohol we e commonly applied o in ec ions, while i s inges ion was alued o de oxi ica ion and o e all i ali y [13].
Heal h Bene i s o Cons i uen s o Ana dana-based spicy he bal Balls
The heal h bene i s o ana dana-based he bal balls a e a ibu able o hei adi ional composi ion o d ied pomeg ana e
seeds blended wi h bo anicals such as cumin, black peppe , ennel, d y ginge , amchu , and he bal sal [Figu e 2]. The
he apeu ic p ope ies o his p epa a ion a ise om he ich phy ochemical p o ile, including polyphenols, essen ial oils,
la onoids, o ganic acids, and mine als p esen in each ing edien , as desc ibed below.
A. Pomeg ana e seed
P eclinical in es iga ions ha e consis en ly demons a ed ha pomeg ana e seed (PS) and pomeg ana e seed oil (PSO)
exe p o ec i e e ec s ac oss a spec um o me abolic, neu ological, oncological, and in lamma o y condi ions. In
Alzheime ’s and p ion disease models, nano-encapsula ed PSO enhanced mi ochond ial unc ion, educed p25 and Aβ
accumula ion, and imp o ed cogni i e pe o mance in 5XFAD mice [14]. PS Polyphenols such as punicalagin and ellagic
acid a enua ed neu oin lamma ion ia NF-κB inhibi ion and educed au and β-amyloid pa hology, while enhancing
au ophagy and mi ochond ial in eg i y. U oli hin A, a mic obial me aboli e, is speci ically p oduced by he gu mic obio a
om he b eakdown o ellagic acid and ellagi annins con ained in PS. U oli hin A has been shown o pene a e he blood-
D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
464
b ain ba ie and imp o e mi ophagy and synap ic plas ici y, and also educe neu oin lamma ion in Alzheime ’s and
Pa kinson’s models [15].
Figu e 2. The ing edien s used o p epa ing Pomeg ana e seed bon-bons
Addi ional s udies on PSO and pomeg ana e juice ha e demons a ed in a c size educ ion and neu op o ec ion in
ischemic b ain models h ough ele a ed an ioxidan de enses. In cance models, PSO supp essed p oli e a ion o b eas
cance cells ia G0/G1 a es , modula ed apop osis- ela ed genes (Bax↑, Bcl-2↓, p53↑), and educed VEGF le els [16].
Punicic acid a ge ed PI3K/Ak /mTOR signaling in glioblas oma, while PS ex ac s p omo ed apop osis and oxida i e
s ess in HepG2 li e cance cells. No ably, PSO nanoemulsions imp o ed a ge ed deli e y o cy o oxic agen s in glioma
and inhibi ed ni osamine o ma ion. An i-in lamma o y and an ioxidan p ope ies we e e iden in PSO- ea ed skin and
li e in lamma ion models, whe e COX-1/2, VEGF, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-2 le els we e educed , and in aged mice, whe e
PSO ele a ed SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px ac i i y [17].
Fu he s udies ha e e ealed PSO’s ole in egula ing glycaemia and me abolism. In high- a die models, PSO enhanced
GLUT-4 exp ession, insulin sensi i i y, and educed as ing blood glucose, wi h mechanisms in ol ing AMPK
ac i a ion and an ioxidan modula ion [18]. Os eop o ec i e e ec s we e e idenced h ough imp o ed bone mine al
densi y, MMP-1 supp ession, and enhanced Col-II exp ession in os eoa h i ic and o a iec omized oden s [19].
Ca diop o ec i e ac i i ies included ROS inhibi ion, imp o ed lipid a ios, and in lamma ion a enua ion in
me ho exa e-exposed and H₂O₂-challenged models [20]. In an i-obesi y esea ch, PSO educed isce al a and
up egula ed UCP1 exp ession, p omo ing beige adipogenesis and educing neu oin lamma ion [21]. Finally,
an imic obial e ec s we e demons a ed in some G am-posi i e and G am-nega i e s ains, whe e PSO accele a ed
healing in wounds in ec ed by hese mic obes, and dec eased in lamma ion in opical models [22].
Clinical ials ha e begun alida ing hese ou comes. Khajebishak e al. (2019) epo ed ha 3 g/day o PSO
signi ican ly lowe ed as ing glucose and p o-in lamma o y cy okines (TNF-α, IL-6) in obese T2DM (Type 2 Diabe es
melli us) pa ien s o e 8 weeks [23]. Hashemi e al. (2021) ound ha daily supplemen a ion wi h 10 g o pomeg ana e
seed powde imp o ed as ing glucose and HbA1c in 60 T2DM pa ien s. In neu ocogni i e s udies, pomeg ana e juice
enhanced memo y, e en ion and lea ning in olde adul s [24], while supplemen a ion pos -ca diac su ge y imp o ed
eco e y. Mechanis ically, he he apeu ic e ec s o PS and PSO a e a ibu ed o mul iple molecula a ge s. Punicic
acid, he majo bioac i e a y acid in PSO, educes ROS and enhances endogenous an ioxidan sys ems (SOD, CAT,
GSH-Px). PSO ac i a es AMPK, p omo ing insulin sensi i i y and glucose egula ion, while u oli hin A media es
neu op o ec ion by es o ing mi ochond ial in eg i y and down egula ing α-synuclein and β-amyloid [15]. An i-
in lamma o y ac ions in ol e supp ession o NF-κB signaling and COX enzymes, along wi h educed cy okine and
VEGF exp ession [18].
B. Ginge (Zingibe o icinale)
Ginge is medically used in i s d ied, powde ed o m, called Saun h in he e nacula . Se e al p eclinical models ha e
con i med he heal h po en ial o consuming ginge . Unde oxida i e s ess condi ions, ginge inc eased an ioxidan
D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
465
enzyme ac i i ies and educed malondialdehyde (MDA) le els in diabe ic a s and he nema ode Caeno habdi is elegans
[25]. In models o Alzheime ’s and Pa kinson’s disease, ginge imp o ed cogni i e pe o mance, inhibi ed
ace ylcholines e ase, dec eased β-amyloid and au pa hology, and p o ec ed dopamine gic neu ons, in pa by p ese ing
he in eg i y o he gu -b ain axis, and modula ing neu oin lamma o y esponses [26]. Also, an icance ac i i y was
obse ed ac oss b eas , colon, ce ical, and enal cance lines, whe e ginge induced apop osis ia mi ochond ial
pa hways, inhibi ed NF-κB and STAT3 signaling, and modula ed apop osis- ela ed genes such as BAX, BCL2, p53, and
caspase-3 [27].
Me abolically, ginge p omo es insulin sensi i i y by ac i a ing AMP-ac i a ed p o ein kinase (AMPK) and enhancing
GLUT-4 ansloca ion. I also inc eases GLP-1 sec e ion and educes p o ein glyca ion ia me hylglyoxal sca enging
[28]. In hype glycemic models, 6-SG (6-Shogaol is a key bioac i e compound ound in ginge ) modula ed he
NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β in lammasome and educed a e ial calci ica ion. Ginge ’s an i-obesi y e ec s we e
demons a ed by educed isce al a , up egula ion o PPAR-δ, and a o able shi s in gu mic obio a [29]. Addi ional
bene i s we e seen in models o sa copenia, whe e ginge p e en ed myoblas senescence and enhanced muscle
egene a ion [30], and in de ma ology, whe e i inhibi ed elas ase ac i i y and p o ec ed agains UV-induced skin
damage [31].
Human clinical ials ha e demons a ed ha ginge shows e icacy in con olling nausea and omi ing ac oss mul iple
con ex s: p egnancy, chemo he apy, pos ope a i e eco e y, and an i e o i al he apy [32,33]. Ginge imp o es gas ic
mo ili y, educes dys hy hmias, and modula es apop osis ma ke s in colo ec al cance isk pa ien s [34]. Pain- elie ials
showed signi ican e icacy in cases su e ing om dysmeno hea, mig aines, and os eoa h i is, wi h esul s o en
compa able o s anda d d ugs like ibup o en and me enamic acid [35,36,37]. Clinical da a on me abolic heal h a e also
encou aging. Ginge supplemen a ion educed as ing glucose, HbA1c, insulin esis ance (HOMA-IR), and in lamma o y
ma ke s such as CRP in pa ien s wi h T2DM, while modes imp o emen s in body weigh and QUICKI index we e
epo ed in obesi y ials [38]. Addi ionally, ginge imp o ed blood p essu e and lipid p o iles and showed an ipla ele
e ec s in co ona y a e y disease pa ien s [39]. O he s udies ha e highligh ed i s abili y o educe hea y mens ual
bleeding and enhance lac a ion olume in pos pa um pe iod [40,41].
Mechanis ically, he p esence o bioac i e cons i uen s in ginge , pa icula ly 6-ginge ol (6-GN) and 6-shogaol (6-SG),
exe an ioxidan e ec s by neu alizing eac i e oxygen species (ROS) such as hyd oxyl adicals, supe oxide, and ni ic
oxide. They also enhance p oduc ion o endogenous an ioxidan enzymes like supe oxide dismu ase (SOD), ca alase
(CAT), and glu a hione pe oxidas [42]. Ginge modula es in lamma ion h ough down egula ion o key media o s
including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and inducible ni ic oxide syn hase (iNOS), p ima ily ia inhibi ion o he NF-κB,
PI3K/Ak , and MAPK signaling pa hways [43]. I also inhibi s COX-2 exp ession and educes p os aglandin E2 (PGE2)
p oduc ion [44]. These an i-in lamma o y e ec s ex end o gas oin es inal, neu ological, and ca dio ascula bene i s
[Figu e 3].
Figu e 3. Bene icial e ec s o he mo ley o ing edien s con ained in Pomeg ana e Bon-bons.
D . Sha adendu Bali, e al. Zes y Pomeg ana e Bon-Bon Candies: A Tas y Boos Fo You B ain And Gu Heal h. In . J
Med. Pha m. Res., 6 (6): 461‐475, 2025
466
C. Fennel (Foeniculum ulga e)
The di e se pha macological ac ions o Fennel, called Saun in Hindi, ha e been con i med by ex ensi e p eclinical
s udies, which ha e demons a ed my iad bene icial e ec s, including an imic obial, an ioxidan , an i-in lamma o y,
neu op o ec i e, gas op o ec i e, ca diome abolic, an idiabe ic, an icance , hepa op o ec i e, and cy op o ec i e ac ions.
In an ioxidan models, ennel ex ac s demons a ed excep ional ee adical sca enging capaci y, su passing e en α-
ocophe ol in educing hyd ogen pe oxide and me al-induced oxida i e s ess. These e ec s a e associa ed wi h
obse a ions o inc eased ac i i y o endogenous an ioxidan s like supe oxide dismu ase (SOD) and ca alase, along wi h
signi ican educ ions in lipid pe oxida ion ma ke s such as malondialdehyde (MDA) in animal models [45]. An ioxidan
e ec s a e d i en by he con ained polyphenolic compounds, including osma inic acid, ca eoylquinic acid, kaemp e ol,
and que ce in de i a i es, which neu alize eac i e oxygen species (ROS) and simul aneously up egula e endogenous
an ioxidan enzymes like SOD and ca alase, educing oxida i e ma ke s such as MDA. The an i-in lamma o y
p ope ies o ennel seeds ha e been con i med in bo h acu e and ch onic in lamma ion models, whe e me hanol ex ac s
ma kedly dec eased edema and cy okine p oduc ion [46]. The an i-in lamma o y ac ions o ennel in ol e
down egula ion o in lamma o y media o s including cy okines, ni ic oxide (NO), and p os aglandin E2 (PGE2),
po en ially ia inhibi ion o COX and iNOS enzymes.
Neu op o ec i e e ec s o ennel ha e been demons a ed in animal s udies, which showed ha ennel ex ac mi iga ed
anxie y-like beha io , educed co icos e one le els, and imp o ed memo y pe o mance unde oxida i e and beha io al
s ess condi ions, likely ia modula ion o GABAe gic neu o ansmission and an ioxidan de ense pa hways [47].
Neu op o ec i e and anxioly ic ac ions likely occu h ough ennel’s la onoids and phy oes ogens, which acili a e
imp o emen s in mood, cogni ion, and s ess esponses [48]. Gas oin es inal bene i s ha e been shown in models o
gas ic ulce a ion, wi h ennel ex ac p o ec ing mucosal in eg i y and supp essing in lamma ion. In diabe ic animal
models, ennel ex ac s signi ican ly lowe ed blood glucose and oxida i e s ess bioma ke s, suppo ing i s an idiabe ic
po en ial [49]. Hepa op o ec i e e icacy has also been demons a ed in chemically induced li e inju y models, wi h
educ ion in in lamma o y cy okines and oxida i e damage, and imp o emen s in hepa ic a chi ec u e [50].
Mo eo e , an icance e ec s o ennel ha e been obse ed in i o, whe e i s majo cons i uen compound ane hole
induced apop osis in leukemia and hepa ocellula ca cinoma cells and a enua ed umo -associa ed oxida i e s ess [51].
Mechanis ically, Ane hole has been shown o supp ess NF-κB ac i a ion igge ed by TNF-α, he eby inhibi ing
in lamma ion and p omo ing apop osis in cance cells, a key mechanism behind he an icance po en ial o ennel [52].
Fennel has shown imp o ed co ona y pe usion and educed lipid accumula ion in ascula issues in ca dio ascula
models, con ibu ing o blood p essu e educ ion [53]. Besides, gas oin es inal bene i s ha e been clinically
demons a ed in in an s, whe e ennel ex ac signi ican ly educed symp oms o colic, such as abdominal pain and
la ulence, mos likely due o i s spasmoly ic and an ioxidan e ec s. Fennel essen ial oil also demons a es spasmoly ic
ac ion on smoo h muscles, con ibu ing o an i-colic and u e ine egula o y e ec s [54].
An imic obial in es iga ions ca ied ou in i o, ha e shown ha aqueous and alcoholic ex ac s o ennel exhibi b oad-
spec um bac e icidal ac i i y agains bo h G am-posi i e and G am-nega i e bac e ia, including esis an s ains like
Acine obac e baumannii [55]. Fu he , he essen ial oil and ex ac s display an i ungal e ec s agains Candida albicans,
Aspe gillus spp. and de ma ophy es[56]. Addi ionally, i s essen ial oil cons i uen s such as enchone, es agole, and
hymol exhibi po en aca icidal and insec - epelling p ope ies [57]. Mechanis ically, he an imic obial e ec s a ise om
lipophilic cons i uen s o ennel, such as ane hole, dillapional, scopole in, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, which dis up
mic obial memb anes and in e e e wi h enzyme sys ems, esul ing in pa hogen dea h.
Clinical s udies ha e u he backed he adi ional and expe imen al indings on he he apeu ic po en ial o ennel. In a
no able double-blind, placebo-con olled ial, ennel ex ac c eams a 1% and 2% concen a ions we e shown o
signi ican ly educe acial hi su ism, wi h g ea e e icacy a he highe dose, sugges ing a dose-dependen esponse
[58]. In he domain o emale ep oduc i e heal h, ennel’s phy oes ogenic cons i uen s, especially ane hole, ha e been
linked o alle ia ion o mens ual discom o , suppo ing i s use in hose wi h dysmeno hea. Es ogenic e ec s o
ane hole and diane hole, media ed ia es ogen ecep o binding, suppo mens ual egula ion, ho mone modula ion, and
lac a ion enhancemen [59].
D. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum).
Va ious p eclinical s udies ha e con i med he he apeu ic ac ions o cumin (jee a). In diges ion- ela ed models,
con inuous die a y in ake o 1.25% cumin imp o ed panc ea ic and in es inal enzyme ac i i y in a s, including inc eased
amylase and chymo ypsin sec e ion. This led o enhanced nu ien abso p ion and as e gas oin es inal ansi [60]. In
bile sec e ion s udies, cumin s imula ed bile low by nea ly 70%, suppo ing i s adi ional use in managing sluggish
diges ion [61]. In an idiabe ic esea ch, cumin consis en ly showed hypoglycemic e ec s. In s ep ozo ocin and alloxan-
induced diabe ic a s, cumin ex ac educed as ing glucose and imp o ed lipid p o iles [62]. Cuminaldehyde, a key
ac i e compound, inhibi ed α-glucosidase and aldose educ ase, bo h o which a e in ol ed in diabe ic complica ions
[63]. Cumin also a enua ed oxida i e damage by educing ad anced glyca ion end p oduc s and lipid pe oxida ion.
Ca dio ascula s udies in hype ensi e a s e ealed ha 200 mg/kg o cumin ex ac lowe ed sys olic blood p essu e.
This was associa ed wi h inc eased ni ic oxide (NO) le els and a o able gene exp ession changes, including eNOS
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up egula ion and supp ession o in lamma o y genes [64]. Cumin also aised pa aoxonase and a yles e ase ac i i y in
hype lipidemic models, enzymes ha p o ec agains oxidized LDL [65].
The chemop e en i e p ope ies o cumin ha e also been demons a ed. In mu ine models, cumin ex ac educed umo
incidence in he o es omach and u e ine ce ix by modula ing cy och ome P450 enzymes and glu a hione S- ans e ase
(GST), which suppo de oxi ica ion [66]. In colon cance models, cumin dec eased DMH-induced umo g ow h and
al e ed bile acid me abolism, indica ing gu -media ed p o ec ion [67]. O he unc ional bene i s include an i-dia heal
ac i i y. Aqueous cumin ex ac delayed cas o oil-induced dia hea onse and educed in es inal sec e ion in a s,
showing dose-dependen e ec s [68]. Addi ionally, cumin essen ial oil inhibi ed he ib illa ion o α-synuclein in i o,
sugges ing a ole in neu op o ec ion ele an o Pa kinson’s disease [69]. Al hough limi ed, clinical s udies o e
encou aging suppo o he he apeu ic use o cumin. In a ial on non-insulin-dependen diabe ic pa ien s, a polyhe bal
o mula ion including cumin signi ican ly educed bo h as ing and pos p andial glucose o e 24 weeks, sugges ing long-
e m glycemic con ol bene i s [70]. In hype choles e olemic pa ien s, cumin ex ac supplemen a ion imp o ed
ca dio ascula ma ke s [71].These included dec eased oxidized LDL and inc eased pa aoxonase-1 ac i i y, which
helps p e en lipid oxida ion and a he oscle osis [65]. The abo e s udies highligh he po en ial ole o cumin in
managing ch onic me abolic diso de s.
E. Black peppe
P eclinical s udies on black peppe p o ide signi ican e idence suppo ing he pha macological ac i i ies o Pipe
nig um, p ima ily h ough i s ac i e compound, he alkaloid pipe ine. In an imic obial in- i o esea ch s udies, pipe ine
demons a ed inhibi o y e ec s agains E. coli, S. au eus, S. yphi, and d ug- esis an s ains, including inhibi ion o
quo um sensing and bio ilm o ma ion [72,73]. Fu he , hese an i-bac e ial e ec s o pipe ine we e obse ed o enhance
he suscep ibili y o bac e ia o s anda d an ibio ics, hus es ablishing pie ine as a bioenhance [74]. In addi ion, pipe ine
ac s as a na u al e lux pump inhibi o by blocking P-glycop o ein and o he mul id ug esis ance (MDR) anspo e s.
This ac ion esul s in inc eased in acellula le els o co-adminis e ed d ugs, imp o ing hei bioa ailabili y and
he apeu ic e icacy. This bio-enhancing e ec has been especially no ed wi h an ibio ics, an i ungals, and
chemo he apeu ic agen s. In cance biology, pipe ine con ibu es o apop osis, au ophagy, and cell cycle a es . I a ge s
signaling pa hways such as PI3K/Ak /mTOR, MAPK, and ERK1/2, while also down egula ing HER2 exp ession.
Simul aneously, i ac i a es caspase-3, caspase-9, and p o-apop o ic p o eins like BAX, dis up ing umo cell su i al
mechanisms [75]. These an icance e ec s o pipe ine ha e been obse ed ac oss se e al models. In i o, pipe ine
inhibi ed he g ow h o MCF-7, HT-29, and HL-60 cance cells by p omo ing apop osis, mi ochond ial dys unc ion, and
DNA agmen a ion. In i o, pipe ine adminis a ion in mice educed umo olume, me as asis, and VEGF exp ession
[76].
In me abolic disease models, pipe ine showed an idiabe ic e ec s by educing as ing glucose and HbA1c, and also
imp o ed lipid p o iles. These e ec s we e media ed h ough aldose educ ase inhibi ion and enhanced insulin sensi i i y
[77]. An ioxidan p ope ies o pipe ine ha e been con i med h ough bo h in i o assays and animal models, which
showed ha pipe ine sca enged ee adical species, such as supe oxide, hyd oxyl adicals, hyd ogen pe oxide, ni ic
oxide, and pe oxyni i e. This is complemen ed by i s abili y o boos endogenous an ioxidan sys ems, including
supe oxide dismu ase (SOD), ca alase (CAT), glu a hione pe oxidase (GPx), and glu a hione (GSH) in hepa ic and neu al
issues, he eby p o ec ing hese issues om oxida i e s ess [78]. Concu en ly, lipid pe oxida ion ma ke s such as
MDA we e signi ican ly educed. Pipe ine also displayed s ong an i-in lamma o y and analgesic e ec s. I
signi ican ly educed ca ageenan-induced paw edema and pain beha io s in mul iple animal models [79]. Pipe ine
inhibi s nuclea ac o -kappa B (NF-κB) and mi ogen-ac i a ed p o ein kinase (MAPK) signaling, including ERK and
JNK pa hways. As a esul , he e is a down egula ion o in lamma o y media o s such as in e leukin-1β (IL-1β), umo
nec osis ac o -α (TNF-α), in e leukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible ni ic oxide syn hase (iNOS).
In he ne ous sys em, pipe ine in luences neu o ansmi e p ocesses. I enhances le els o dopamine (DA), se o onin (5-
HT), and gamma-aminobu y ic acid (GABA), and suppo s neu al communica ion and mood egula ion. Fu he mo e, i
p o ec s neu ons by supp essing ace ylcholines e ase (AChE) ac i i y and ac i a ing neu o ophic pa hways such as
BDNF/CREB and PI3K/Ak . These e ec s help educe neu onal oxida i e inju y and in lamma ion [80]. The
neu op o ec i e bene i s ha e been con i med in models o Alzheime ’s, Pa kinson’s, Hun ing on’s, and epilepsy, whe e
Pipe ine educed amyloid-β plaques and α-synuclein agg ega ion, while inc easing BDNF, dopamine le els, and educing
neu oin lamma ion and oxida i e damage. Addi ionally, i s an icon ulsan po en ial was demons a ed in PTZ- and
MES-induced seizu e models, whe e i inc eased la ency o seizu es and enhanced GABAe gic ac i i y [81].
Clinical ials ha e con i med he abo e p eclinical s udies, and demons a ed he he apeu ic po en ial o pipe ine in
me abolic, in lamma o y, neu ological, and gas oin es inal diso de s. In obesi y and me abolic synd ome, pipe ine-
con aining supplemen s signi ican ly educed body a , insulin esis ance, LDL, and in lamma o y ma ke s such as CRP
and lep in/adiponec in a io o e 8–12 weeks [82]. Combined use o pipe ine wi h cu cumin, es e a ol, o ocophe ol
u he enhanced an ioxidan enzyme ac i i y and educed oxida i e ma ke s [83]. In os eoa h i is, a combina ion o
pipe ine, cu cumin, and ginge ol led o signi ican pain elie and imp o ed join unc ion a e ou weeks o ea men
[84]. Simila ly, in elde ly indi iduals wi h dysphagia, o al pipe ine imp o ed swallowing e lexes and sensi i i y,
indica ing i s u ili y in ge ia ic ca e [85]. In heal hy adul s, pipe ine educed men al a igue and imp o ed cogni i e
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ale ness unde s ess condi ions [86]. Li e and kidney suppo was obse ed in hemodialysis pa ien s. When co-
adminis e ed wi h u me ic, pipe ine educed oxida i e s ess bioma ke s, sugges ing a ole in mi iga ing in lamma ion-
induced o gan damage. In gas oin es inal applica ions, a 2-week he bal blend including 500 mg P. nig um imp o ed
bloa ing and in es inal discom o , likely h ough i s enzyme-ac i a ing and p okine ic ac ions [87].
F. Un ipe mango powde (Amchu )
P eclinical and clinical esea ch s udies a es ha amchu , ac ing p ima ily h ough i s bioac i e compound mangi e in,
exe s signi ican he apeu ic e ec s by modula ing oxida i e, in lamma o y, me abolic, and cellula s ess pa hways. In
i o and in i o s udies consis en ly demons a e s ong an ioxidan ac i i y, wi h mangi e in sca enging eac i e
oxygen species (ROS) such as supe oxide, hyd oxyl adicals, and hyd ogen pe oxide. Addi ionally, i also enhances
endogenous de enses like ca alase, supe oxide dismu ase (SOD), and glu a hione pe oxidase (GPx) [8,88]. In diabe ic
models, mangi e in educed as ing glucose, HbA1c, and iglyce ide le els, imp o ed insulin sensi i i y, and p ese ed
panc ea ic β-cell unc ion, likely ia ac i a ion o AMP-ac i a ed p o ein kinase (AMPK), supp ession o ad anced
glyca ion end p oduc s (AGEs), and up egula ion o GLUT-4 exp ession [89]. I also mi iga ed diabe ic neph opa hy and
enal oxida i e s ess. An i-in lamma o y e ec s we e alida ed in DSS- and LPS-induced in lamma ion models, whe e
mangi e in supp essed NF-κB and NLRP3 in lammasome ac i a ion, and up egula ed N 2/HO-1 signaling, esul ing in
issue p o ec ion in he li e , lung, kidney, and colon [90]. In gas oin es inal s udies, amchu educed mucosal damage,
in lamma o y cy okines, and oxida i e s ess while imp o ing gu mo ili y and ba ie unc ion [91]. Cance -p e en i e
e ec s we e demons a ed in mu ine models, whe e mango juice and mangi e in educed umo incidence, enhanced
apop osis, and modula ed cell cycle egula o s such as Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 [92,93]. In ca dio ascula s udies,
mangi e in imp o ed endo helial unc ion, inc eased ni ic oxide (NO) ia eNOS up egula ion, and lowe ed
in lamma o y ma ke s such as CRP and ICAM-1 in hype ensi e a s [94]. Addi ionally, i no malized ALT, AST, BUN,
and c ea inine in models o hepa o oxici y and enal inju y [8, 95].
In a ecen andomized con ol s udy, aw mango consump ion imp o ed glycemic con ol in a majo i y o diabe ic
pa ien s. The ou comes we e a ibu ed o educed insulin esis ance and an ioxidan ac i i y [96]. In schoolchild en,
mango juice byp oduc s boos ed immuni y and educed in ec ion a es, likely due o immunomodula o y polyphenols
[97]. Fu he , clinical s udies in ol ing me abolic diso de pa ien s epo ed consis en imp o emen s in glucose and
lipid p o iles and educ ions in oxida i e and in lamma o y ma ke s. The he apeu ic ou comes o amchu a e
mechanis ically suppo ed by he capabili y o mangi e in o ac i a e he N 2 pa hway, inhibi NF-κB and MAPKs
(ERK, JNK), supp ess iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and block he NLRP3 in lammasome. I s an icance
p ope ies a e linked o G2/M a es , p o-apop o ic p o ein ac i a ion, and modula ion o de oxi ica ion enzymes like
GST [98]. Addi ionally, mangi e in enhances gas oin es inal in eg i y ia choline gic s imula ion and p omo es
ca dio ascula heal h h ough ascula elaxa ion and an ioxidan ac i i y [90].
G.Black sal
Black sal , also known as Kala Namak, demons a es a wide ange o pha macological ac i i ies a ibu ed o i s unique
composi ion, pa icula ly i s sul u compounds and Ayu edic cons i uen s such as T iphala ( h ee my obalans).
P eclinical s udies ha e e ealed ha he sul u compounds o black sal , speci ically sodium sul ide (Na₂S), i on sul ide
(FeS), and sodium bisul a e (NaHSO₄), a e me abolized in o hyd ogen sul ide (H₂S), which unc ions as a gaso ansmi e
in mammalian sys ems. H₂S has been shown o egula e ascula one, enhance endo helial ni ic oxide p oduc ion, and
mi iga e mi ochond ial dys unc ion by modula ing K⁺-ATP channels and inhibi ing ER-s ess- ela ed p o eins such as
phospho yla ed eIF2α and caspase-12, o e ing ca dio ascula and neu op o ec i e bene i s in ischemia- epe usion and
s oke models [99, 100,101]. S udies in oden models ha e demons a ed ha H₂S p oduced om black sal educes
oxida i e neu onal damage and p ese es mi ochond ial in eg i y [99,102], while T iphala componen s such as Amla and
Baheda u he p o ec agains oxida i e enal and hepa ic inju y h ough inhibi ion o iNOS and COX-2, as well as
supp ession o sys emic CRP le els [103].
Clinical ials in es iga ing he indi idual componen s o black sal suppo i s he apeu ic ac ions. Amla (Phyllan hus
emblica) supplemen a ion in hype lipidemic pa ien s led o signi ican educ ions in LDL, iglyce ides, and ma ke s o
oxida i e s ess such as malondialdehyde (MDA), alongside imp o ed endo helial unc ion and glucose ole ance in
diabe ic subjec s [104,105]. Simila ly, Te minalia chebula (Ha ad) and Te minalia belli ica (Baheda), when adminis e ed
in ex ac o m, imp o ed enal bioma ke s and educed gingi al in lamma ion in pa ien s, likely h ough an ibac e ial
e ec s a ge ing S ep ococcus mu ans and enhancemen o ni ic oxide bioa ailabili y [106,107]. Addi ional s udies
con i med he ole o Baheda in lowe ing u ic acid and c ea inine le els in CKD pa ien s [107] and showed ha i s
supplemen a ion can mi iga e oxida i e s ess and imp o e me abolic pa ame e s in models o non-alcoholic a y li e
disease (NAFLD) and obesi y [108]. Mechanis ically, he an i-in lamma o y ac i i y o black sal is achie ed h ough
down egula ion o NF-κB and MAPK pa hways, along wi h inhibi ion o NLRP3 in lammasome assembly by
Chebulagic acid, Gallic acid and Ellagic acid, esul ing in educed IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2 exp ession in models o
sepsis, coli is, and a h i is [109,110].
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H. Lemon juice
Se e al s udies ha e been conduc ed o de e mine he an i-mic obial and an i-mu agenic e ec s o Ci us limon juice.
Lemon juice exhibi s an ibac e ial ac i i y agains bo h G am-posi i e and G am-nega i e s ains, no ably inhibi ing
S aphylococcus au eus and Pseudomonas ae uginosa, [111, 112]. Lemon juice also inhibi s he g ow h o he ungus
Candida albicans. In o he s udies, lemon juice exhibi ed s ong an ibac e ial e ec s agains mul id ug- esis an s ains
such as Shigella lexne i and S aphylococcus epide midis. In cance p e en ion s udies, lemon juice signi ican ly
dec eased iabili y o human as ocy oma cance cells in i o, and demons a ed an i-mu agenic ac i i y by inhibi ing
sodium azide-induced back mu a ions in Salmonella yphimu ium (TA100), wi h hal - ipened lemon juice showing
s onge e ec s han ipened juice in bo h he scena ios [113]. P eclinical s udies ha e con i med hese ac i i ies. C.
limon nano esicles inhibi ed p oli e a ion o cance cells and supp essed ch onic myeloid leukemia umo g ow h in i o
[13].
Lemon juice also shows mode a e an ioxidan capaci y by inhibi ing DPPH [114]. Ci us la onoids such as hespe idin
and e ioci in, along wi h i amin C neu alize eac i e oxygen species (ROS) and enhance an ioxidan enzyme ac i i y
by up egula ing he N 2 pa hway. This an ioxidan ac ion educes oxida i e s ess in issues exposed o in ense physical
ac i i y o in lamma ion. In animal models, lemon and lime ex ac s ha e demons a ed an i-in lamma o y p ope ies by
supp essing NF-κB ac i a ion and dec easing le els o p o-in lamma o y cy okines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α),
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible ni ic oxide syn hase (iNOS), especially in models o coli is, a h i is, and
me abolic synd ome [115]. Also, p o ec ion agains o ma ion o u ina y calculi is achie ed h ough he ci ic acid
con en in lemon and lime, which ele a es u ina y ci a e le els and alkalizes he u ine, he eby p e en ing calcium
oxala e s one o ma ion. Lime juice also shows diges i e bene i s, since i s imula es bile and gas ic sec e ion, enhances
gu mo ili y, and soo hes symp oms o e lux and coli is h ough choline gic and agal modula ion.
Human clinical and obse a ional s udies on lemon juice ha e also un eiled in e es ing ou comes. In o e weigh
Ko ean women, a "lemon de ox die " in ol ing 2 li e s o lemon juice pe day signi ican ly educed body a , insulin
esis ance, and se um hs-CRP le els wi hou ad e se hema ological changes [116]. In middle-aged Japanese women,
daily lemon juice in ake combined wi h walking esul ed in signi ican educ ions in sys olic blood p essu e, highligh ing
lemon juice's ca dio ascula bene i s [117]. Ca dio ascula p o ec ion is also achie ed by imp o ing h ombin ime and
an icoagulan p o iles, and enhancing p o ein C le els. Lemon juice also exhibi s neu op o ec i e e ec s by signi ican ly
imp o ing sho - and long- e m memo y in passi e a oidance es s in mice [118]. Also, a sys ema ic e iew concluded
ha lemon polyphenols signi ican ly educe oxida i e damage and in lamma o y ma ke s ollowing exe cise, p omo ing
as e eco e y and educed muscle so eness. In pa ien s wi h GERD o unc ional dyspepsia, lemon and lime,
pa icula ly when combined wi h honey o he bs, we e associa ed wi h symp oma ic elie . Fu he mo e, wa m lemon
wa e has been associa ed wi h weigh loss bene i s due o i s pec in con en and ci ic acid-induced me abolic
s imula ion. In opical egions, lime juice emains a i al die a y sou ce o i amin C, suppo ing immune unc ion and
p e en ing scu y, pa icula ly in nu i ionally ulne able popula ions. These collec i e indings suppo lemon juice’s
b oad sys emic bene i s, including an ioxidan , an i-in lamma o y, an icance , an imic obial, ca dio ascula , and
neu op o ec i e ac ions.
Mechanis ically, he bioac i e cons i uen s o lemon juice exe an ioxidan e ec s by sca enging eac i e oxygen species
(ROS) like supe oxide and hyd oxyl adicals, educing lipid pe oxida ion, and s eng hening endogenous an ioxidan
de enses, such as SOD, CAT, GPx [118]. An i-in lamma o y ac ions a e media ed ia supp ession o NF-κB signaling and
down egula ion o in lamma o y cy okines (TNF-α, IL-1β). Lemon-de i ed nano esicles ac i a e TRAIL-media ed
apop osis in cance cells, while lemon juice modula es me abolic ma ke s such as hs-CRP du ing calo ie- es ic ed die s.
DISCUSSION
Pomeg ana e bon-bons a e sold e e ywhe e in India, and child en lo e o snack on hese spicy, swee and sou candies.
Resea ch s udies on he bs and spices conduc ed in he las ew decades ha e un a eled he heal h bene i s o spices, and
i u ns ou ha hese delec ables a e no simply as y candies, bu also a he use ul o he unc ioning o body sys ems.
The human and animal e idences om s udies e iewed abo e demons a e ha each ing edien in he Ana dana he bal
bon-bons, aps in o key molecula pa hways, and oge he hese ac ions o e neu o and ca dio-p o ec i e e ec s,
alongwi h whole-body bene i s.
The key bioac i es in he o mula ion such as punicalagin and ellagic acid (pomeg ana e), ginge ols/shogaols (ginge ),
ane hole ( ennel), cuminaldehyde (cumin), pipe ine (black peppe ), mangi e in (amchu ), T iphala-de i ed annins (black
sal ), and he la onoid– i amin C complex o lemon juice uni o mly ac i a e he N 2 pa hway, he eby up- egula ing
endogenous an ioxidan enzymes. Concomi an ly, hey supp ess he NF-κB, MAPK, and NLRP3 signalling axes, limi ing
downs eam in lamma o y cy okine p oduc ion. Se e al cons i uen s (e.g., punicic acid, u oli hin A, pipe ine)
addi ionally es o e mi ophagy and mi ochond ial in eg i y, e ec s linked in p eclinical models o imp o ed me abolic
con ol, ascula unc ion, neu ocogni i e pe o mance, and a enua ion o umo g ow h.
Mo eo e , p e-clinical s udies demons a e ha he combined phy ochemical p o ile o he ing edien s lowe s ce eb al
β-amyloid and α-synuclein bu dens, enhances insulin sensi i i y, imp o es lipid a ios, educes a e ial p essu e,
