The Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Efficacy of Date Palm Pollen ( <i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> L.) Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Preclinical Evidence

Introduction: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen (DPP), derived from male specimens, contains abundant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory constituents, indicating its therapeutic potential in alleviating organ damage. This systematic review assesses the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective efficacy of DPP supplementation in experimental animal models. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase to identify studies investigating the effects of DPP on hepatic and renal function. Study quality and risk of bias were evaluated using SYRCLE’s risk-of-bias assessment tool. Results: Among 1,327 screened publications, eight met the inclusion criteria. Supplementation doses and durations ranged from 60 to 400 mg/kg/day and from 9 to 42 days, respectively. Evidence consistently indicated that DPP supplementation confers protective effects against hepatic and renal dysfunction through mechanisms involving antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. DPP ameliorated elevated plasma urea and creatinine concentrations, hepatic enzyme levels, and total serum bilirubin levels. Additionally, it attenuated oxidative stress markers by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and restoring ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. DPP further suppressed the upregulated expression of TNF-α, NF-κB, and ICAM-1 genes, as well as leukocyte infiltration associated with toxicant-induced hepatic and renal injury. Discussion: DPP supplementation shows strong protective effects on the liver and kidneys in animal models, improving key biomarkers and organ integrity, primarily due to its antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties. Conclusion: DPP is a promising nutraceutical for liver and kidney health, although further research is needed to clarify its mechanisms and clinical potential.