COMPARING PHENOLICS COMPOSITION AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT POMEGRANATE PRODUCTS

The phenolics and antioxidant abilities of pomegranate juices (aril juice (AJ) and aril-mesocarp-epicarp mixture juice (AMEJ), by-product extracts (extract of aril-mesocarp-epicarp (EAME) and rind extract (ER) were determined and compared. The results showed no significant difference in phenolic compositions however ratio of phenolic constituent were found different. The total phenolics, total flavonoids and total tannins contents followed the order of ER EAME AMEJ AJ, and total anthocyanins followed the trend EAME AMEJ AJ ER. The total antioxidant, total reduction, ABTS^•+ radical scavenging and DPPH^• radical scavenging capacities followed the sequence ER AJ EAME AMEJ, AMEJ ER EAME AJ, ER AMEJ EAME AJ and AMEJ ER AJ EAME respectively. With the exception of ABTS^•+ scavenging capacities, strongest antioxidant activity found in juices compared to their corresponding purified products. These data suggest that phenolics play a vital role in the composition and antioxidant activity of pomegranate products.