Phytochemical and technological insights into the fertility-enhancing potential of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

• Traditional roles of date palm pollen in reproductive health are detailed. • Comprehensive profiling of phytochemicals linked to fertility enhancement. • Multi-target mechanisms and signaling pathways are systematically integrated. • Green extraction, encapsulation, and fermentation strategies are emphasized. • Translational potential in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and therapeutics. Date palm pollen (DPP) has long been valued for its fertility-enhancing properties and is now recognized as a promising source of bioactive compounds with nutritional and therapeutic relevance. This review integrates phytochemical composition, biological mechanisms, and technological innovations to provide a comprehensive perspective on DPP. Its composition includes proteins (19.45-39.8%), amino acids, fatty acids (7.2-31.5%), carbohydrates (13.41-26.25%), polyphenols (4.96-17.43 mg GAE/g), vitamins, minerals, and phytohormones, all of which contribute to reproductive health. Evidence from animal and human studies confirms beneficial effects on sperm quality, hormonal balance, ovarian function, and sexual performance in both sexes. Mechanistically, DPP modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, enhances steroidogenesis, activates antioxidant defenses, regulates nitric oxide signaling, modulates dopaminergic pathways, and suppresses inflammation, engaging cascades such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and Nrf2/ARE. From a technological standpoint, advances in green extraction methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), encapsulation, and fermentation have improved the efficiency, stability, and scalability of DPP bioactives. Encapsulation strategies, including nanoemulsions, and polymer-based carriers, further enhance delivery and bioavailability. Despite these advances, variability in composition, pretreatment requirements, and the lack of standardized clinical protocols remain key challenges. Nevertheless, DPP demonstrates strong translational potential as both a functional food ingredient and a reservoir of lead compounds for fertility-targeted therapeutics. Future research should prioritize the systematic isolation of bioactive constituents, detailed mechanistic investigations, rigorous clinical validation, and integration into sustainable bioeconomy strategies. Overall, DPP represents a unique convergence of ethnopharmacology, food technology, and reproductive medicine, with broad implications for functional foods, nutraceuticals, and next-generation fertility therapeutics.