Palm Oil Phenolic Compounds and Their Antioxidant Potential in Human Disease Models: A Systematic Literature Review

Oxidative stress plays a role in the development of various chronic diseases, thus natural bioactive compounds are increasingly being researched as cellular defense supports. This study evaluates the antioxidant potential of palm oil phenolic compounds through a systematic review of 32 articles published from 2019–2026 from Scopus and PubMed. The results show that palm phenolics can scavenge free radicals, enhance antioxidant enzymes, maintain redox balance, suppress NF-κB and MAPK inflammatory pathways, and protect mitochondria. These effects were found in models of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and cancer diseases. These findings support functional food and biomedical research, but still require extract standardization, bioavailability studies, and human clinical trials.