EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUNDS AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ABILITY OF POMEGRANATE FRUIT PEELS

Jamuna S,Sathiskumar S

doi:10.26524/krj143

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of pomegranate fruit peels. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were made for various solvent extracts of fruit peel of pomegranate and for antioxidant activity, ethanolic extract alone was used.The preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed that higher number of secondary metabolites was found in ethanolic extract of fruit peel than the other solvent extracts. The total phenolics and flavonoids contents of ethanolic fruit peel extract was found to be 246.5 mg GAE/100g extract and 83.95 mg QE/100g extractrespectively. The ethanolic fruit peel extracts unveiled highest scavenging ability by quenching the DPPH free radicals with the IC50 value, 142.90µg/mL. The present study showed that the tested pomegranate peels exhibited strong antioxidant activity. These results suggest that pomegranate fruit peel could be exploited as a potential source of natural antioxidant agent.

Highlights

Fruits are an important component of a healthy diet
The present study showed that the tested pomegranate peels exhibited strong antioxidant activity
These results suggest that pomegranate fruit peel could be exploited as a potential source of natural antioxidant agent

Summary

Introduction

Fruits are an important component of a healthy diet. More attention has been paid to the antioxidants contained in fruits. Antioxidants in fruit have been reported to reduce oxidative damage in our body (Halliwell, 2012). The antioxidants are known to play an important role in ameliorating oxidation process by quenching free radicals, chelating metals and scavenging oxygen in foods and biological systems (Anwar and Przybylski, 2012). Fruit skin contains a higher concentration of antioxidant substances than the flesh of the fruit (Awad et al, 2001). High fruit intakes reduce the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer (Guo et al, 2003)

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Discussion

Conclusion