A Review on Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has been traditionally used in East Asian medicine and contains various bioactive com- pounds including condensed tannins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. This review aims to comprehensively examine the dual immunomodulatory mechanisms of D. kaki-derived components. Flavonoids and triterpenoids exert anti-inflammatory effects through NF-κB and MAPK pathway inhibition, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators. In contrast, polysaccharides exhibit immunostimulatory effects by activating macrophages through MAPK signaling. In disease models, persimmon extracts demonstrated therapeutic effects in atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, and immediate-type hypersensitivity, while enhancing host defense in tumor and infection models. These findings indicate that persimmon possesses bidirectional immune regulatory properties depending on pathophysiological context, suggesting its potential as a functional material for immune balance modulation.