Study on antioxidant properties of leathery and spongy peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds. Antioxidative potentials of bioactive compounds are attributed with diverse medicinal properties and health benefit effects. Nowadays, pomegranate (Punica granutum L.) is accepted as a unique fruit having considerably high antioxidant activity. The present study was performed to determine the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential of extracts obtained from leathery and spongy peels of Malas variety of pomegranate. Total phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and stated as mg gallic acid per g of extract. Antioxidant potential of the peel extracts were measured using DPPH radical scavenging, βcarotene/linoleate acid and oxidative stability index (OSI) methods. According to the results, the leathery peel contains more content of phenolic compounds in comparison to the spongy peel. In addition, the antioxidant activitiy was increased by increasing the concentration of leathery and spongy peel extracts. It is also noteworthy that more antioxidant activity is found in the leathery peel in comparison to the spongy peel. Results revealed that the leathery and spongy peels of pomegranate as byproduct can be categorized with high antioxidant potential.