Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Different parts of pomegranate, including pomegranate peel, seed and juice contain valuable compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study the antioxidant activities and total phenolic of peel, seed and juice of three type of pomegranate cultivated in Iran were investigated. METHODS: Pomegranate peels, juice and seeds from three regions of Natanz, Shahreza and Doorak obtained. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic, flavonoids and flavonols contents of pomegranate extracts were analyzed by β-carotene bleaching test and Folin–Ciocalteu method. FINDINGS: The antioxidant activity of peel, seed and juice of pomegranate extract ranged from 45 to 58, 26 to 54 and 9 to 10, respectively. Among varieties, peel extract of Doorak had the highest antioxidant activity (58). Phenolic content ranged from 12.4 (Doorak juice) to 413 (Doorak peel) mg GAE/g DW. Phenolic content of pomegranate peels of Natanz, Shahreza and Doorak were 3.81 to 11.59, 4.94 to 22.84 and 5.65 to 33.30 times higher than those of seed and juice. Flavonoid content ranged from 1.8 to 54 mg rutin/ g. the highest and lowest flavonol were reported in Doorak peel (45 mg rutin/g) and Shahreza and Natanz juice (1.5 mg rutin/g), respectively. Pomegranate peel had higher antioxidant activity and phenolic content in comparison to other parts. The results showed positive correlation between phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: The results of study indicated that pomegranate juice showed the lowest antioxidant activity and phenolic content in comparison to peel and seed. High antioxidant activity of pomegranate can introduce them as natural food preservatives. © 2018, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.