Study on antioxidant activities of extracts from different parts of Korean and Iranian pomegranates.

摘要

The functional components and antioxidant activities of pomegranate juice and extracts of pomegranate husk, endocarp and seeds from Korean and Iranian pomegranates were analysed and compared. Korean pomegranate husk (KPH) had the highest total polyphenol content among the pomegranate extracts. Total phytoestrogen content was highest in Korean pomegranate endocarp (KPE). Iranian pomegranate endocarp (IPE) and Iranian pomegranate husk (IPH) had the highest flavonoid levels. Overall, Korean pomegranate had more functional components than Iranian pomegranate. KPE had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase-like activity of all the extracts, and KPH had the highest nitrite scavenging activity. IPE showed the highest superoxide anion scavenging activity. ABTS+ assay also indicated that IPH had the highest antioxidant activities. A positive correlation was observed between total polyphenol, flavonol and phytoestrogen levels and antioxidant activities. Korean pomegranates contained more functional components and had higher antioxidant activity than those of Iranian pomegranates. Additionally, pomegranate endocarp and seed extracts were better than pomegranate juice in terms of functional components and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that pomegranate husk, endocarp and seed extracts, as well as pomegranate juice, may have value as natural antioxidants.