A Focused Insight into Sumac: Biological, Chemical, Health Benefits and Its Applications in Food Industry

Sumac Spice is a tangy red-purple powder produced by drying and grinding the hairy clusters of sumac fruit. It is often used in several regions to add a lemony and astringent taste to many dishes. Sumac is considered a valuable plant that governs nutritious elements such as proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins and many polyphenols. Its phenolic content contributes to activate its medical and therapeutic role. Traditionally, sumac was effective in treating several health issues for centuries. Recently, many studies proved that it has an antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities. Sumac succeeded to put its mark in the field of the food industry since it was utilized as a natural food additive such as preservative, antioxidant and colorant in various food products. It successfully boosts the quality of different food items such as bread, meat, dairy products, tomato paste, barley soap, peanut oil and shrimps. In total, sumac spice is not only a nutritious spice that adds a distinctive taste to many dishes, but also when incorporated in food industry it meets the consumer concern for the ''natural label'' food products, as well as its valuable role in disease prevention and health promotion.