Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Wild Pomegranate Collected from Patnitop, Jammu & Kashmir

Abstract

Wild pomegranate is an ancient fruit with known medicinal and curative properties, attributing to overall positive health. The present study focuses on phytochemical analysis and the antioxidant potential of the fruits (red and green), leaves and flowers of wild pomegranate. High amount of carbohydrates and proteins were observed in red fruits, followed by green fruit, while they were low in flowers and leaves. However, leaves possessed higher amounts of phenolics and tannins as compared to other tissues and fruit extracts. Highest radical scavenging effect was observed in red fruit with EC50 value 70.33µg/ml as compared to other tissues. The ferric reducing potential was significantly higher in red fruit (310.99 ± 0.98 µmol Fe2+/ g dry matter) in comparison to green fruit extracts of wild pomegranate. The results indicated that methanolic extract of red fruits are pharmacologically more active and can be exploited for studying the pharmacokinetics of various bioactive compounds present in wild pomegranate.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of some medicinal plants’ crude juices

“…Bustamante et al [ 42 ] reported that pomegranate peels extract of Wonderful cultivar from Chile exhibited antioxidant activity of 99.4 μg trolox equivalent (TE)/g under ideal conditions of extraction. Kaur et al [ 43 ] mentioned that the highest antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH method was recorded in red fruits (IC 50 = 70.33 μg/mL) while the lowest in leaves (IC 50 = 120.78 μg/mL). Also, the maximum antioxidant activity by ferric reducing power assay was in red fruits while the lowest antioxidant phenomenon was recorded in leaves (310.99 ± 0.98 μmol Fe 2+ /g and 69.99 ± 0.45 μmol Fe 2+ /g dry matter, respectively).…”

Identification and comparative expression analysis of chalcone synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase genes in wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) organs

“…Anardana is also used as a source of livelihood by the locals (Mushtaq and Ganjoo 2017). Presence of secondary metabolites in different plant parts of wild pomegranate and high antioxidant activity is responsible for its health benefits and medicinal properties (Kaur et al 2018).…”