Fruit of the Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Plant: Nutrients, Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Fresh and Dried Fruits

Abstract

Since the beginning of time, medicinal plants have been considered nature's undiscovered but precious resources, or nature's pharmacy. Almost 35,000 different species have been used as a safe and effective source of medicine in nearly every human culture on the planet (representing over 75% of the global population). The body uses plant-based materials known as nutrients to aid in tissue development and repair. A natural defense mechanism against disease, phytochemicals are bioactive compounds that are present in fruits, vegetables and aromatic plants. Phytochemicals are a broad class of chemical substances present in natural goods. These include polyphenols, flavonoids, steroidal saponins, organo-sulfur compounds etc. Numerous biological advantages of natural antioxidants include their ability to reduce inflammation, prevent atherosclerosis and fight cancer. Pomegranate have also been investigated in recent years to determine the presence of certain phytoconstituents. Pomegranate has a wide range of pharmacological properties, including anti- inflammatory, wound-healing, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial properties. Hence the objectives of this present study is to analyse the nutrient composition, to identify the phytochemicals, to estimate the antioxidant activity of the fresh and dried pomegranate fruits. Nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein, fibre, iron, vitamin-c, calcium were done by AOAC method. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis was carried out by the standard methodology with extraction through maceration process to identify the secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, quinones and etc in various solvents like aqueous, ethanol, methanol, acetone, petroleumether and chloroform. Antioxidant activity were done by DPPH method. Hence dried fruit have better profile of phytochemicals and antioxidants so it can be used for therapeutic purposes mainly digestive problems and pharmaceutical industries.