Zahra Shaghaghi
1 
, Saeedeh Zamani
2 , Farzad Fathi
3 , Maryam Alvandi
4,5* , Fatemeh Kholoosi Taher
6 , Mohammad Reza Dehbanpour
3 , Roozbeh Narimani Javid
3 1 Cancer Research Center, Institute of Cancer, Avicenna Health Research Institute, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
3 Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4 Cardiovascular Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
5 Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
6 Clinical Research Development Unit, Farshchian Heart Cancer, Hamadan University Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract
This review really digs into all the cool ways gallic acid (GA) can help with health, especially its strong powers in fighting off damage from oxygen radicals and stopping cancer from growing. We dive deep into how GA messes with different cancer cells, making them die off in a controlled way. The presentation also discusses how gallium enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs, serving as a robust protective barrier against the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Moving on, we look at how GA helps protect the body from harm caused by radiation or other toxic substances, especially in important parts like the liver, kidneys, and brain. But GA’s not just about cancer; it’s also great at protecting the nerves, keeping blood vessels healthy, and even stopping diseases before they start. By the end, we get a full picture of how GA moves around the body, how it gets broken down, and all the ways it can protect the body, making it a really interesting natural substance for medical use. As no thorough study has yet explored this topic, this review seeks to comprehensively evaluate the most prominent research on the diverse biological activities of GA, including its radioprotective effects.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Gallic acid (GA) possesses well-established properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer agent, chemoprotective, and radioprotective agent. Proper use of GA can reduce the side effects of radiation and improve treatment output.
Please cite this paper as: Shaghaghi Z, Zamani S, Fathi F, Alvandi M, Kholoosi Taher F, Dehbanpour MR, et al. A comprehensive review on radioprotective potency and multifaceted biological activities of gallic acid. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2026;15(1):1-10. doi: 10.34172/jhp.2026.52846.