Palm fruit pollen extract (PFPE) is a natural source of bioactive
polyphenols. The primary aim of the study was to determine the
antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer,
enzyme inhibition,
bovine serum albumin (BSA), and
DNA-protective properties of PFPE and identify and quantify the phenolic compounds present in PFPE. The results demonstrated that PFPE exhibited potent
antioxidant activity in various radical-scavenging assays, including (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH•), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid (ABTS•),
nitric oxide (NO), ferric-reducing/
antioxidant power (FRAP), and total
antioxidant capacity (TAC). PFPE also displayed antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria. Similarly, PFPE reduced
acetylcholinesterase,
tyrosinase, and α-
amylase activities. PFPE has been proven to have an anticancer effect against colon
carcinoma (Caco-2),
hepatoma (HepG-2), and
breast carcinoma (MDA)
cancer cells. Apoptosis occurred in PFPE-treated cells in a dose-dependent manner, and cell cycle arrest was observed. Furthermore, in
breast cancer cells, PFPE down-regulated Bcl-2 and p21 and up-regulated p53 and
Caspase-9. These results show that PFPE constitutes a potential source of
polyphenols for
pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food applications.