In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

The pomegranate seeds of four commercial varieties (Abanmahi (AB), Malas (MS), Pust Sefid (PS) and Shahvar (SH)) cultivated in Iran were evaluated in terms of quality properties including protein, oil, dietary fiber, mineral contents and fatty acid composition. Physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of pomegranate seed oils (PSOs) also was determined. The oil antioxidant activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity. Results showed that PS had the highest oil (16.9%) and crude fiber (42.4%), and nutritional value (460.7Kcal/100g) among the selected varieties. PS had the highest level of phosphorus (2766.3 mg/kg) and magnesium (2052.0mg/kg), while the highest calcium (675.3mg/kg) and potassium (3724.6mg/kg) were related to SH. The main fatty acid identified by gas chromatography was punicic acid ranged from 72.07% for SH to 73.31% for MS (pp2/kg), iodine (216.9-220.3g I2/100g) and saponification (179.3-182.5mg KOH/g) values. Also, refractive index at 25°C, viscosity and density of PSOs varied from 1.461-1.527, 0.036-0.063Pa.s and 0.9202-0.9311g/cm3, respectively. The oil obtained from MS showed the lowest level of ortho-diphenols (ODC) and DPPH radical scavenging capability. The relationship between percentage of remaining DPPH and ODC of PSOs also illustrated high correlation among all varieties (R2 = 0.98, p<0.01).

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