Abstract
The aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-tyrosinase activity of different aqueous extracts obtained from pomegranate juice processing by-products. External pomegranate peels of two certified cultivars (Akko and Wonderful), were extracted using only water as the extraction solvent. A traditional decoction and a pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE), both 10 min long, were performed and compared. All the aqueous extracts proved to be rich in bioactive compounds. In particular, the total phenolic content (TPC) ranged from 148 to 237 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of dried peels (DW), the radical-scavenging ability (RSA) ranged from 307 to 472 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g DW, the free ellagic acid content (EA) ranged from 49 to 94 µg/mL, and the ellagitannins (ETs) ranged from 242 to 340 µg/mL. For both cultivars, PUAE extracts had higher ET content and a lower EC50, while the decoctions had slightly higher TPC, RSA, and free EA amounts. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted the direct correlation between the ET content and the tyrosinase enzyme inhibition (lower values of EC50). These findings suggest the potential use of both these natural extracts as low-cost lightening and/or anti-browning ingredients exploitable in several formulations (e.g., cosmetics) or extemporarily usable.
Highlights
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits
One-way ANOVA, analyzing the mean differences of the pH values, showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the cultivars (Akko and Wonderful), but no significant differences are highlighted between the two different extraction methods (D and pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE)) for the same cultivar (Table 2)
The results of this research highlighted that water, as an extraction solvent, was able to extract, in a limited extraction time (10 min), significant amounts of bioactive compounds, ETs, from pomegranate peels of the commercial cultivars most widespread in Italy: Akko and Wonderful
Summary
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits. Mentioned in the Bible, the Koran and Egyptian texts, the first pomegranate crops date back to 3000–4000 BC. [1].Native to the Middle East and North Africa, today pomegranate is spread globally due to its high longevity, drought and salinity resistance, and adaptability to different climatic conditions [2].In particular, pomegranate is widely cultivated in Iran, India, China, USA, several countries of the former USSR, South Africa, and in Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Appl. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest edible fruits. Mentioned in the Bible, the Koran and Egyptian texts, the first pomegranate crops date back to 3000–4000 BC. Native to the Middle East and North Africa, today pomegranate is spread globally due to its high longevity, drought and salinity resistance, and adaptability to different climatic conditions [2]. Pomegranate is widely cultivated in Iran, India, China, USA, several countries of the former USSR, South Africa, and in Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Appl.
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