Comparison of Chemical Composition and Radical Scavenging Activity of Pomegranate Extracts from Different Growing Areas

Abstract

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a promising source of functional food, which contains several phytochemicals that perform important roles in reducing the risk of pathological diseases. Chemical compositions, such as the total sugar, uronic acid, polyphenols, and anthocyanin contents, and radical scavenging activity were determined and compared among PEs from six different cultivation areas. Total anthocyanin contents (TAC) and total polyphenol contents (TPC) from various growing areas were detected in the following order, respectively: Spain (19.08 ㎍/mL)＞ Turkey (12.91 ㎍/mL)＞ Iran-A (6.67 ㎍/mL)＞ Taiwan (4.77 ㎍/mL)＞ Uzbekistan (1.88 ㎍/mL)＞ Iran-B (0.76 ㎍/mL) and Turkey (639.52 ㎍/mL)＞ Uzbekistan (502.19 ㎍/mL)＞ Spain (306.40 ㎍/mL)＞ Iran-B (249.20 ㎍/mL)＞ Taiwan (162.78 ㎍/mL)＞ Iran-A (143.93 ㎍/mL). PEs from six different cultivation areas were determined to vary in ellagic acid content from 8.90 ㎍/mL to 332.52 ㎍/mL. The amounts of total sugars in PE from Iran-A evidenced relatively high total sugar contents, but low uronic acid levels (11.92 ㎎/mL). DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities were as follows: Turkey＞ Uzbekistan ≫ Spain＞ Iran-B＞ Iran-A＞ Taiwan. ABTS [2,20-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] radical scavenging activities were detected in the following order: Turkey≥ Uzbekistan≫ Spain＞ Iran-B＞ Iran-A＞ Taiwan. These results indicate that the PEs from Turkey with higher levels of TPC, TAC, ellagic acid, and higher radical scavenging activity may constitute a promising functional source for the prevention of several degenerative diseases.