## 7 Historical and Potential Modern Uses of Acorns in Medicine  
Acorns have been used for generations in traditional folk healing methods as a tool to combat, among other things, indigestion, diarrhea, or inflammation [1; 30; 73]. The possibility of using acorns in the treatment of diseases has been known to man since historical times in various cultures around the world. [PERSON] et al. [95] report on using acorn raw materials and products in the Iberian Peninsula and indicate using acorn drinks (made by boiling crushed, chopped acorns with water) to treat diarrhea. A similar use is presented by [PERSON] [115] for the acorn coffee substitute, indicating its stringent and antidiartheal effects. The use of acorns in folk medicine in the Mediterranean region was also described by [PERSON] et al. [6], indicating their role in treating burns and injuries. The possibility of using acorns has also been known among ethnic groups in California. The people of the Chumash ethnic group used acorn porridge to treat gastrointestinal ailments, which was prepared from the acorns of various species, including _Quercus agridia_, _Quercus douglasii_, and _Quercus lobata_[116]. In Turkey, folk medicine indicated a much wider scope of use of the phytochemical potential of acorns, which were administered to people suffering from hemorrhages, chronic diarrhea, bacterial infections (e.g., dysenterly), or respiratory problems (including bronchitis, asthma, and chronic cough). One of the ways to serve acorns was to process them into a product called \"Gezo\", resembling molasses syrup. This syrup was also used preventively to strengthen the immune system [117; 118]. Nowadays, research is underway indicating the possibility of using acorns, extracts, and products made from them in the prevention and treatment of, among others, diseases of the circulatory system, nervous system, diabetes, and skin inflammation as an antiinflammatory, antihypertensive, or antioxidant agent [13; 55; 119]. Table 5 presents source data relating to the use of the potential of bioactive ingredients found in acorns based on in vitro and in vivo studies. The results obtained by the authors indicate, among others, the possibility of using acorn extracts to inhibit selected enzymes (e.g., liver enzymes, enzymes stimulating the decomposition of neurotransmitters, or enzymes regulating the sugar-insulin metabolism) [120; 121; 122; 123], heal skin wounds [124] or prevent inflammation (e.g., in gum diseases) [125]. The health-promoting properties of acorns are due to the presence of phytonutrients in them, among which the most important are phenolic compounds, triterpenes, sterols, tocopherols, and carotenoids [10; 13]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline _Quercus Species_ & **Acorn Form** & **Application Form** & **Specified Biological Activity** & **References** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Q. acitissima_} & extract from the acorn & in vitro experiment and & anti-inflammatory & \\  & kernels with 80\% & study on mice—orally & activity—inhibition of tumor & \\  & ethanol & administered at a dose of & necrosis factor-a and T-helper 2 & \\  & ethanol & 100 or 200 mg/kg body & (Th2) type cytokines (IL-4 and & \\  & weight/day & IL-13)—anti-asthma potential & \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Q. brantii_} & extract from the seed & mucoadhesive gel for the & antioxidant and antibacterial & \\  & hull with 70\% ethanol & treatment of periodontitis & activity of polyphenols & \\  & water extract from & administered at a single & inhibition of hepatic enzymes & \\  & acorns & dose of 50 mg/kg—study & (ALT, AST, ALP, and \\  & & on rats & LDH)—prevents liver damage & \\ \cline{1-1}  & hydroalcoholic extract & inhibition of HEWL amyloid & \\  & from acorn internal & in vitro experiment & formation & \\  & fruit & & reduction of glycated & \\  & acorn fluor & acorn muffins—oral & hemoglobin & \\  & acorn flour & administration in diet (10 g & (HbA1c)—anti-diabetic activity & \\  & of acorn flour per day) & (HbA1c) & of polyphenols & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
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