Characterization of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed and oils

Abstract

The main objective of current study was to characterize of pomegranate (Punica granatumL.) seed andoils as a source of phytochemical, and bioactive compounds. While total phenol contents of seed extractsvary between 23.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 28.8 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, their antioxidantactivities were changed between 17.6 and 22.9% (p<0.05). The seeds of pomegranate varietiescontained 347–647 mg/kg Ca, 2076–3846 mg/kg K, 1572–2327 mg/kg P, and 1357–1781 mg/kg Mg.While the total phenol contents of seed oils change between 7.8 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 19.2mgGAE/g, antioxidant activity of oil samples varied between 6.8 and 8.8% (p<0.05). The predominantfatty acid of oils is punicic acid, and punicic acid contents of oil samples were found between 71.2 and77.6%. Oleic acid contents of seed oils were determined between 7.6 and 9.1%. In addition,ɣ-tocopherol contents of pomegranate oil ranged from 236 mg/100 g to 389 mg/100 g. Pomegranateseeds are sources of bioactive and phytochemical such as fatty acid,ɣ-tocopherol, total phenolic content,andflavonoids with potentially high antioxidant activities.Practical applications:In folk medicine for many centuries, pomegranate is an important source ofbioactive and phytochemical compounds. Pomegranate fruit are known to posses strong antioxidantactivity, and its oil consists of approximately 80% punicic acid. Pomegranate seed contains a range ofnutraceutical components such as punicic acid, sterols, andɣ-tocopherol