ABSTRACT
Prunus domestica (commonly known as plum) is a fruit that belongs to the Rosaceae family and is mostly known for its high fibre content and use as a laxative. The plum fruit, however, has made a comeback in recent years as a superfood. Indeed, chemical profiling of the plum fruit has shown that it consists of several hundreds of biochemicals, including phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and volatile organic compounds, amongst others. Many of these compounds have been associated with antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. Moreover, several pre-clinical and intervention studies have been performed to investigate the effect of plum consumption on diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and various cancers. The aim of this chapter is to provide an update on the recent properties and health benefits of plum and its products.
