Pomegranate Rind Research Articles

Improving Biogas Production Performance From Pomegranate Waste, Poultry Manure and Cow Dung Sludge Using Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion: Effect of Total Solids Adjustment

Context: Biogas is one of the most important sources of renewable energy and is considered as an environmental friendly energy source. One of the most important parameter influencing the production of biogas is total solids (TS). Aims: In this study, the effects of different total amount of solids, which consisted of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% treatments, on the biogas production were examined. The solids were obtained at a thermophilic temperature (55°C) from a mixture of pomegranate rind, cow manure, and sludge in 15 days using one-liter glass bottles. Materials and Methods: The influences of TS, volatile solids (VS), pH, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio on the biogas production volume from optimized TS treatment were also evaluated. In addition, pomegranate peel was pretreated for lignocellulosic destruction. Results: The results showed that the biogas production increased from 0.273 to 0.736 L/day with an increase in TS from 5 to 25%. The 25% treatment had the highest mean biogas production (i.e., 0.736 L/day). Significant difference was observed between the 25% treatment and all other treatments except the 20% treatment. The regression model showed that the VS was the only parameter that had a significant effect on biogas production. This parameter justified about 74.1% of the biogas production accuracy. Conclusion: Anaerobic digestion is an appropriate technology to achieve the organic fraction of solid wastes. Due to higher biogas production, dry anaerobic digestion is of more importance than wet and semi-dry anaerobic digestion.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of pomegranate rind extract to ameliorate cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent, but the therapeutic utility is limited due to its dose dependent nephrotoxicity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of pomegranate in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. Wistar rats were allocated into six groups as follows: the normal control, cisplatin-induced, pomegranate rind extract treatment (50, 100 and 200 mg kg(-1)) and pomegranate rind extract per se group. All the experimental test drugs/vehicle were administered orally for a period of ten days. Intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (8 mg kg(-1)) was administered on day 7 to all the groups except the normal control and pomegranate per se group. On day 10, cisplatin resulted in significant nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats with a drastic elevation of serum creatinine and BUN, a decline in the concentrations of GSH, MDA and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and an elevation in the TNF-α level in renal tissues. Pathological changes in renal tissues were examined by histopathology and dysfunction in mitochondria and proximal tubule cells was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The rate of apoptosis and the expression of caspase-3, Il-1β and IL-6 in rat renal tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The administration of pomegranate at a dose of 200 mg per kg body weight significantly (p < 0.001) ameliorates increased serum creatinine and BUN. In parallel to this, pomegranate also exhibits anti-apoptotic activity through the reduction of active caspase-3 expression in kidneys. Additionally, in-silico studies also confirmed a renoprotective effect of pomegranate. The above findings suggest that pomegranate can be used as a dietary supplement in the treatment of cisplatin-induced kidney injury by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Tannin-Rich Fraction from Pomegranate Rind Inhibits Quorum Sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum and Biofilm Formation in Escherichia coli.

Pomegranate rind has been found to inhibit numerous pathogens, mostly attributed to its tannin fraction. The present study was conducted to investigate the quorum sensing (QS) inhibition effect of tannin-rich fraction from pomegranate rind (TFPR) by using an indicator strain Chromobacterium violaceum. Meanwhile, its effect on biofilm formation and motility of Escherichia coli was evaluated. It was shown that TFPR inhibited QS-regulated violacein pigment production. Biofilm formation and motility of E. coli were also hindered by TFPR. Transcriptional analysis further showed that TFPR repressed expressions of curli genes (csgB and csgD) and various motility genes (fimA, fimH, flhD, motB, qseB, and qseC). Our findings indicated that TFPR has potential application for controlling E. coli contaminations or biofilms in the food industry.

Pomegranate rind-derived activated carbon as electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors

In this paper, activated carbon materials were synthesized from pomegranate rind through carbonization and alkaline activation processes. The effects of pyrolytic temperature on the textual properties and electrochemical performance were investigated. The surface area of the activated carbon can reach at least 2200 m2 g−1 at different pyrolytic temperatures. It was found that, at the range of 600–900 °C, decreasing the carbonization temperature leads to the increase of t-plot micropore area, t-plot micropore volume, and capacitance. Further decreasing the carbonization temperature to 500 °C also leads to the increase of t-plot micropore area and t-plot micropore volume, but the capacitance is slightly poorer. The activated carbon carbonized at 600 °C and activated at 800 °C possesses very high specific area (2931 m2 g−1) and exhibits very high capacitance (∼268 F g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and ∼242 F g−1 at 1 A g−1). There is no capacitance fading after 2000th cycle.

Selective extraction of gallic acid in pomegranate rind using surface imprinting polymers over magnetic carbon nanotubes.

A novel surface imprinting polymer based on magnetic carbon nanotubes was prepared using dendritic polyethyleneimine as functional monomer to amplify the number of imprinted cavities. The characteristics of resulting polymers were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Results suggest that magnetic nanoparticles are deposited onto the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the imprinted shell is coated on the surface of magnetic carbon nanotubes with a thickness of approximately 8 nm. Magnetic imprinted polymers are sensitive to magnetic fields and can be easily separated within 3 s using an external magnet. The adsorption results indicate that the obtained imprinted polymers have fast kinetics, an ultrahigh adsorption capacity of 479.9 mg g(-1), and satisfactory selectivity towards the template molecule. The prepared materials have excellent stability with no obvious deterioration after six adsorption-regeneration cycles. In addition, a method for determination of gallic acid (GA) in pomegranate rind was developed, using a combination of the prepared polymers used as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for rapid isolation and determination of GA. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 0.001 μg mL(-1), and the intra and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) are lower than 3.8% and 5.3%, respectively. The recoveries of GA from pomegranate rind extract are in the range 98.2-103.6% with RSDs lower than 4.3%.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) rind extract as a novel preservative in cheese

The study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of utilization of pomegranate (Punica granatum) rind extract as a novel natural preservative in cheese. Low fat Kalari was used as a model and treated with different levels of pomegranate rind extract (0%, 1%, and 2%) and evaluated for various oxidative stability and storage quality parameters under refrigerated (4±1 °C) conditions. A significant (P<0.05) effect was observed on the lipid oxidative stability as the treated products exhibited significantly (P<0.05) lower TBARS (mg malonaldehyde/kg) and FFA (% oleic acid) values. A significant (P<0.05) effect was also observed on the microbiological characteristics of the products as treated products showed significantly (P<0.05) lower values for total plate count (log cfu/g), psychrophillic count (log cfu/g) and yeast and mold count (log cfu/g). Coliforms (log cfu/g) were not detected throughout the storage period. Significantly (P<0.05) higher scores were observed for various sensory parameters of the treated products. Pomegranate rind extract successfully improved the oxidative stability and storage quality of Kalari and may be commercially exploited as a natural preservative in cheese products.

Anti-Proliferative Effects of Polyphenols from Pomegranate Rind (Punica granatumL.) on EJ Bladder Cancer Cells Via Regulation of p53/miR-34a Axis

miRNAs and their validated miRNA targets appear as novel effectors in biological activities of plant polyphenols; however, limited information is available on miR-34a mediated cytotoxicity of pomegranate rind polyphenols in cancer cell lines. For this purpose, cell viability assay, Realtime quantitative PCR for mRNA quantification, western blot for essential protein expression, p53 silencing by shRNA and miR-34a knockdown were performed in the present study. EJ cell treatment with 100 µg (GAE)/mL PRE for 48 h evoked poor cell viability and caspase-dependent pro-apoptosis appearance. PRE also elevated p53 protein and triggered miR-34a expression. The c-Myc and CD44 were confirmed as direct targets of miR-34a in EJ cell apoptosis induced by PRE. Our results provide sufficient evidence that polyphenols in PRE can be potential molecular clusters to suppress bladder cancer cell EJ proliferation via p53/miR-34a axis.

Tannin-Rich Pomegranate Rind Extracts Reduce Adhesion to and Invasion of Caco-2 Cells by Listeria monocytogenes and Decrease Its Expression of Virulence Genes

Pomegranate rind is rich in tannins that have remarkable antimicrobial activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a tannin-rich fraction from pomegranate rind (TFPR) on Listeria monocytogenes virulence gene expression and on the pathogen's interaction with human epithelial cells. Growth curves were monitored to determine the effect of TFPR on L. monocytogenes growth. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and fluorescence staining assays were used to examine the cytotoxicity of TFPR. The effects of TFPR on L. monocytogenes adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells were investigated using Caco-2 cells. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis was conducted to quantify mRNA levels of three virulence genes in L. monocytogenes. Results showed that a MIC of TFPR against L. monocytogenes was 5 mg/ml in this study. TFPR exhibited cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells when the concentration was 2.5 mg/ml. Subinhibitory concentrations of TFPR significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, adhesion to and invasion of Caco-2 cells by L. monocytogenes. When L. monocytogenes was grown in the presence of 2.5 mg/ml TFPR, the transcriptional levels of prfA, inlA, and hly decreased by 17-, 34-, and 28-fold, respectively.

Evaluation of the antiulcer potential of Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract on indomethacin-induced duodenal ulcer

Introduction: Duodenal ulcer is a serious public health problem that affects approximately 10% of the global population and is two to three times more prevalent than gastric ulcer. Naturally occurring medications for duodenal ulcer include the use of pomegranate rind powder. This traditional medication has been used in Saudi Arabia for many years. Objectives: To investigate the capacity of pomegranate peel extract in healing and preventing duodenal ulceration in rats. Materials and methods: Experimental animals were divided into four groups. Group I was used as a control. In Group II (ulcer group) duodenal ulcer was induced by indomethacin administration using a single oral dose of 25mg/kg. In Group III (prevention group), 2 weeks before ulcer induction, rats were treated orally with pomegranate peel extract or ranitidine. In Group IV (treatment group), after ulcer induction, rats were treated with pomegranate peel extract or ranitidine for 2 weeks. The duodenum was subjected to light microscopic studies, immunohistochemical detection of Ki67 as a proliferative marker and biochemical studies (measuring the parameter of lipid peroxidation). Statistical analyses were carried out for determination of the significance of changes in Ki67 proliferation index. Results: In the ulcer group, the levels of malondialdehyde were significantly increased while the reduced glutathione activity was lowered in duodenal mucosa compared with the control group. Apparent disturbed villous to crypt ratio with necrosis and cellular lysis at the tip of the villi and marked mononuclear cellular infiltration were observed in the ulcer group. There was preservation of the crypt to villous ratio, an increase in goblet cells and decreased levels of malondialdehyde in the protection and treatment groups. The number of Ki67 immunostained cells was also increased in these groups. Conclusions: The use of pomegranate rind powder gave good results in the treatment, and perhaps also prevention, of duodenal ulceration in rats.

Bioactive antimicrobial agents for finishing of textiles for health care products

Various antimicrobial textile materials are developed using a variety of active agents which include synthetic antimicrobial agents such as triclosan, metal and their salts, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds, and organometallics. Although synthetic antimicrobial agents effectively inhibit the growth of microbes, most of them are toxic, can cause adverse effects on human health, and have environmental issues. Present studies prove that several plant extracts could be effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria depending on the type of components present in the plant extract. Hence, the research on eco-friendly antimicrobial agents and their application on various textile products gain worldwide importance. Natural antimicrobial compounds derived from plants such as neem, tea tree, azuki beans, aloe vera, tulsi leaves (Ocimum sanctum), clove oil, pomegranate rind, turmeric, eucalyptus oil, onion skin, and pulp extracts, are being used in the finishing of textiles. This paper highlights the possibilities of using these bioactive substances for imparting antimicrobial property to the textiles for developing health care products.

Valorisation of almond shell waste in ultrasonic biomordanted dyeing: alternatives to metallic mordants

An agroindustrial waste, outer green shell of almond fruit has been valorised as a novel natural dye using chemical solvent-free extraction, small amount of metallic mordants, one-bath biomordanted dyeing, ultrasonic medium, auxiliary-free dyeing and washing. The main objective of this study is to evaluate biomordants vs. metallic mordants depending on heating system both in extraction and dyeing and to reveal alternatives to metallic mordants. Effects of conventional- and ultrasound-assisted systems on dyeing and fastness properties were investigated. Wool fabrics dyed using metallic mordants (alum, iron II sulphate, copper II sulphate and potassium dichromate) were compared with the samples dyed in conjunction with biomordants [powder of valex (acorn of Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis), pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) rind, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and thuja (Thuja orientalis) leaves] in terms of colour yield, colour coordinates and fastness properties. Heating system had significant effects on dyeing and fastness results. Power ultrasound did not present any advantage in colour yield increment while it presented different effects on fastness values depending on mordant and process type of which ultrasound was applied. Some biomordants could be replaced with metallic mordants depending on their types and heating system. They could produce completely different colour gamuts just like metallic mordants.

Punicalagin inhibits Salmonella virulence factors and has anti-quorum-sensing potential.

Punicalagin, an essential component of pomegranate rind, has been demonstrated to possess antimicrobial activity against several food-borne pathogens, but its activity on the virulence of pathogens and its anti-quorum-sensing (anti-QS) potential have been rarely reported. This study investigated the efficacy of subinhibitory concentrations of punicalagin on Salmonella virulence factors and QS systems. A broth microdilution method was used to determine the MICs of punicalagin for 10 Salmonella strains. Motility assay and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR were performed to evaluate the effects of punicalagin on the virulence attributes and QS-related genes of Salmonella. The MICs of punicalagin for several Salmonella strains ranged from 250 to 1,000 μg/ml. Motility assays showed that punicalagin, at 1/16× MIC and 1/32× MIC, significantly decreased bacterial swimming and swarming motility, which corresponded to downregulation of the motility-related genes (fliA, fliY, fljB, flhC, and fimD) in RT-PCR assays. RT-PCR also revealed that punicalagin downregulated the expression of most of the selected genes involved in Salmonella virulence. Moreover, a QS inhibition assay indicated that punicalagin dose dependently inhibited the production of violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum and repressed the expression of QS-related genes (sdiA and srgE) in Salmonella. In addition, punicalagin significantly reduced Salmonella invasion of colonic cells (P<0.01) with no impact on adhesion. These findings suggest that punicalagin has the potential to be developed as an alternative or supplemental agent for prevention of Salmonella infection.

Modulation of pomegranate peel colourant characteristics for textile dyeing using high energy radiations

The present study was concerned with extraction of natural colourants from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) rind powder and characterization of extracted dye under the influence of gamma radiations. Both dyeing powder and silk fabric were exposed to different absorbed doses (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40kGy) of high energy radiations using Cs-137 gamma irradiator. Aqueous, alkali and alcohol solubilized extracts were obtained from un-irradiated and irradiated pomegranate rind powders. Aluminium, copper, chromium and tannic acid (2–10% each) were employed to improve colour strength of extracted dye. Exposure of pomegranate peel colourant and silk fabric to gamma radiation greatly improved the extraction and dyeing process by reducing material to liquor ratio, dyeing time, dyeing temperature and salt concentration. Gamma ray treatments also had strong influence on colour strength and fastness characteristics of silk fabrics dyed with irradiated pomegranate peel. Gamma ray treatment of 40kGy was the most effective dose for colourant extraction from pomegranate peel and surface modification of silk fabric. The good colour strength was obtained by dyeing silk with pomegranate peel fabrics at 50°C for 40min, keeping dye bath pH at 6.0 with salt concentration of 10g/L. The result from mordanting experiments indicated that 10% of aluminium as pre-mordant and 10% of tannic acid as post-mordant were the best to enhance colour strength of extracted dye. It was also observed that gamma ray treated pomegranate rind had a good potential to alternate yellow and golden synthetic dyes in textile industry.

Investigations on C-glycosyl flavonoids from Rhynchosia capitata, its antimicrobial and dyeing properties

Natural dyes extracted from a novel source Rhynchosia capitata (R. capitata) Heyne ex roth were applied to cotton fabric by applying traditional and pad dyeing processes using pre-, post- and simultaneous-mordanting techniques. Both dyeing processes were carried out in the presence of natural mordants: Myrobalan, Pomegranate rind, Rhizhophora mucronata fruits, Manjistha, and eco-friendly metallic mordants such as tannic acid, stannous chloride (SnCl2), ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), and copper sulfate (CuSO4). The range of color developed on dyed materials was evaluated in terms of (L*, a*, b*, C*) CIELAB coordinates and dye absorption concentration on textile materials was studied by using K/S values. Natural mordant Rhizhopora mucronata fruits exhibited good absorption value. It was found that metallic mordants FeSO4 and CuSO4 exhibited higher K/S values than SnCl2. For other mordants except FeSO4 shade developed on cotton fabric varied from pale yellow to brown. The fastness properties ranged from good to excellent. High pressure thin layer chromatographic analysis for solvents of varying polarity has been investigated and maximum yield was obtained from 80 % aqueous ethanol fraction. Antimicrobial activity was carried out with the aid of two human pathogenic strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia and the cotton fabric dyed with plain extract of R. capitata shows good activity.

Use of almond shell extracts plus biomordants as effective textile dye

Abstract An ecological approach has been presented by valorisation of outer green shell of almond fruit as a novel natural dye using chemical solvent free extraction, small amount of metallic mordant, alternative natural mordants, auxiliary free dyeing and washing. The main objective of this study is to evaluate biomordants versus metal mordants and to reveal the substitution of the prevalent metallic mordants for biomordants as renewable natural sources. The use of a smaller amount of metallic mordant (0.2 g/L - 1 %) and less plant (1 g plant/3 g fabric) than in most current natural dye applications is a major advantage of dyeing with almond shell extract. Wool fabrics dyed using metallic mordants namely alum, iron II sulfate, copper II sulfate and potassium dichromate were compared with the samples dyed using biomordants; powder of valex (acorn of Quercus ithaburensis ssp. macrolepis ), pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) rind, rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) and thuja ( Thuja orientalis ) leaves in terms of colour measurements, light and wash fastness values. These biomordants were used alone and in conjunction with almond shell extract in the same bath to dye wool fabric. Rose, brown, cinnamon and burgundy/reddish hues were achieved by using alum, iron II sulfate, copper II sulfate and potassium dichromate respectively. Especially rose and burgundy/reddish shades are unique colours for natural dyes. Biomordants exhibited different interactions with almond shell extract resulting in quite different colour gamuts. Rosemary can be alternative to alum (pre and post mordanting), iron II sulfate (pre mordanting) and copper II sulfate (pre, simultaneous and post mordanting). Thuja orientalis leaves, valex and pomegranate rind cannot be precisely substituted for any of the metallic mordants used in this research. However, thuja leaves with almond shell ensured relatively similar colours to alum (pre and post mordanting). Considering the fastness properties; thuja was not effective on washing and light fastness, valex and pomegranate rind improved both washing and light fastness, rosemary was not effective on light fastness while it slightly improved the washing fastness. Valex and pomegranate produced equal light fastness to copper and iron mordant while they exceeded that of the alum and chromium. The light fastness values of rosemary and thuja were similar to alum and chromium and less than copper and iron. Use of biomordants is very promising concept as an alternative method that may help to reduce the reliance on toxic metal salt mordants.

Tannin-Rich Fraction from Pomegranate Rind Damages Membrane ofListeria monocytogenes

Pomegranate rind has been reported to inhibit several foodborne pathogens, and its antimicrobial activity has been attributed mainly to its tannin fraction. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the tannin-rich fraction from pomegranate rind (TFPR) against Listeria monocytogenes and its mechanism of action. The tannin-related components of TFPR were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of TFPR was determined using the agar dilution method. Extracellular potassium concentration, the release of cell constituents, intra- and extracellular ATP concentrations, membrane potential, and intracellular pH (pHin) were measured to elucidate a possible antibacterial mechanism. Punicalagin (64.2%, g/g) and ellagic acid (3.1%, g/g) were detected in TFPR, and the MICs of TFPR were determined to be 1.25-5.0 mg/mL for different L. monocytogenes strains. Treatment with TFPR induced a decrease of the intracellular ATP concentration, an increase of the extracellular concentrations of potassium and ATP, and the release of cell constituents. A reduction of pHin and cell membrane hyperpolarization were observed after treatment. Electron microscopic observations showed that the cell membrane structures of L. monocytogenes were apparently impaired by TFPR. It is concluded that TFPR could destroy the integrity of the cell membrane of L. monocytogenes, leading to a loss of cell homeostasis. These findings indicate that TFPR has the potential to be used as a food preservative in order to control L. monocytogenes contamination in food and reduce the risk of listeriosis.

Wound healing activities of standardized pomegranate rind extract and its major antioxidant ellagic acid in rat dermal wounds

The in vivo wound healing potential of a standardized pomegranate rind extract (SPRE) and its major antioxidant constituent, ellagic acid (EA, 13 %, w/w), were investigated in three rat dermal wound models. It was found that both SPRE (5 and 2.5 %) and its equivalent amount of EA (0.65 and 0.325 %) increased the tensile strength of the incision wound by a maximum of 35.43 and 31.82 %, respectively. SPRE at 5 and 2.5 % accelerated wound contraction of the excision wound and the burn wound, while EA was effective only at 0.65 % in these two wound models. Further assays revealed that SPRE enhanced the synthesis of collagen by a maximum of 21.83 mg/g and inhibited neutrophil infiltration dose-dependently, while EA was not effective in increasing collagen accumulation and its inhibitory effect on neutrophil infiltration was milder. These results indicated that SPRE is a promising phytopharmaceutical effective in facilitating the healing of wounds and is superior to its marker compound EA.

Drying Kinetics and Energy Consumption in the Dehydration of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Arils and Rind

The objective of this study was to evaluate the drying kinetics and energy requirements during convective drying (CD) (50, 60 or 70 °C), vacuum-microwave drying (VMD) (240, 360 or 480 W) and a combined method of convective pre-drying and vacuum-microwave finishing drying (CPD-VMFD) while processing pomegranate arils and rind. Drying kinetics of CD and VMD was described using seven basic drying models; however, VMFD was modeled only by the Henderson and Pabis equation. Pomegranate rind required less drying time (26–460 min) than arils (51–1,395 min) due to its higher porosity and lower sugar content. The drying time and the energy consumption were reduced when the air temperature and microwave wattage were increased. VMD required less energy than CD within the entire range of moisture content assayed. CD energy consumption can be reduced by its combination with VMD (CPD-VMFD), and this reduction was more important when the VMFD was applied earlier. VMD and CPD-VMFD are a good option for food drying industry in order to reduce both the drying time and the energy consumption while processing pomegranate arils and rind. Therefore, industries can optimise the drying process and consequently save their financial needs.

Physio-mechanical properties of an active chitosan film incorporated with montmorillonite and natural antioxidants extracted from pomegranate rind.

An active film was prepared from chitosan incorporated with montmorillonite (MMT) and pomegranate rind powder extract (PRP). The effect of MMT (1%, 3%, and 5% w/w chitosan) and PRP (1%, 1.5%, and 2%w/v chitosan) on the physical, mechanical and antioxidant properties of the chitosan-based films was studied. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed that good interactions occurred between functional groups of chitosan with MMT or with PRP. The results showed that the water vapor barrier property of the films was significantly improved by incorporation of MMT and PRP (p < 0.05). When compared to pure chitosan film, the WVP of M3P2 film (Chitosan/3% MMT/2% PRP) decreased by 25.2%. Tensile strength of the films was affected by the addition of MMT and PRP. However, percent elongation at break was not significantly changed by addition of PRP. The film incorporated with 3% MMT and 2% PRP that contained the highest amount of total phenolic (15.2mg GAE/g DW), was found to be the most active radical scavenger. These results suggest that chitosan films containing MMT and PRP can be used for development of active food packaging materials.

Antioxidant effect of pomegranate rind powder extract, pomegranate juice, and pomegranate seed powder extract as antioxidants in raw ground pork meat

The antioxidant potential of pomegranate rind powder extract (PRP), pomegranate juice (PJ), and pomegranate seed powder extract (PSP) was evaluated in raw ground pork meat stored at 4±1°C for 12 days. The pH values decreased from 5.88 to 5.61. The standard plate count in the PRP group was significantly (p PRP>PJ>PSP>control. Lightness (L* value) was lowered by the addition of PRP, PJ, and PSP. The overall acceptability scores of PRP, PJ, PSP, and BHT treated samples were higher than that of control samples. The results indicated the potential of natural functional ingredients to enhance quality of raw ground pork meat.