Pomegranate juice nutritional profile

Abstract

Pomegranate juice is one of the main products of pomegranate processing with high content of a complex of polyphenolic compounds. It possesses high antioxidant activity. The aim of the study is to establish the nutritional profile of pomegranate juice. Material and methods. A research of nutrient composition of commercial pomegranate juice and analysis of the results in conjunction with the data of chemical composition present in reference books and scientific publications have been carried out. Results and discussion. The nutrient profile of pomegranate juice has been defined. The nutrient profile shows the content of more than 30 nutrients and biologically active substances. Sugars of pomegranate juice are represented by glucose and fructose in approximately equal concentrations. Citric and L-malic acids prevail of the organic acids in pomegranate juice while the content of citric acid, as a rule, is several times higher than the content of L-malic. The total acidity of pomegranate juice is high, on average 1.1 g of organic acids is present in 100 cm3 of juice. A portion of pomegranate juice of industrial production on average contains 15% of the recommended daily allowance of potassium, 5% of magnesium, about 10% of copper. Pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenolic compounds - flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as tannins, which are mainly represented by ellagotannins. The content of anthocyanins in pomegranate juice of industrial production on averages is 1 mg/100 cm3 (the majority is cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside - about 40% of the total content of anthocyanins), ellagic acid - on average 4 mg/100 cm3. The total concentration ellagotannins ( mostly punicalin and punicalagin ) is on average 40 mg/100 cm3. Conclusion. Polyphenolic compounds (ellagotanins, anthocyanins, ellagic acid) and minerals - potassium, magnesium, copper are the most significant for pomegranate juice from the point of view of providing human body with micronutrients and minor biologically active substances.