title: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) juices: chemical composition, micronutrient cations, and antioxidant capacity.
abstract: Phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins of pomegranate juices, obtained from 9 Tunisian ecotypes were quantified. Phenolics and flavonoids in the variety Tounsi (TN) (3299 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE]/L and 636 mg quercetin equivalents [QE]/L of juice, respectively) were higher than in the variety Gabsi (GB) (1570 mg GAE/L and 135 mg QE/L of juice, respectively). The highest anthocyanins quantity was found in GB 2 with 156 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents (CGE)/L. TN 3 ecotype showed the highest tannins quantity with 2550 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/L of juice. TN 1 presented the highest radical-scavenging activity (2, 2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate [ABTS], IC₅₀ [50% inhibition concentration] = 525 mg/L), as well as the highest concentration of micronutrient cations (potassium and sodium). A high correlation (R² = 0.80) between antioxidant capacity and proanthocyanin contents was found, this suggests that proanthocyanins are the principal contributor in the antioxidant capacity of pomegranate. Our data suggest also that the high concentrations of K⁺ and Na⁺ may play a role in the adaptation of pomegranate to arid environments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Aridoculture et de Cultures Oasiennes, Institut des Régions Arides, Km 22.5 route du Jorf, 4119 Médenine, Tunisia. echiraz@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Chiraz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: El Kar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferchichi
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.forename: Jalloul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouajila
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis; D003889:Desert Climate; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000032:analysis*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D018977:Micronutrients; D010636:Phenols; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D013634:Tannins; D002392:Catechin