title: Chemical analysis of Punica granatum fruit peel and its in vitro and in vivo biological properties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medical application of pomegranate fruits and its peel is attracted human beings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro α-Glucosidase inhibition, antimicrobial, antioxidant property and in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of Punica granatum (pomegranate) fruit peel extract using Caenorhabditis elegans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various invitro antioxidant activity of fruit peel extracts was determined by standard protocol. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined using disc diffusion and microdilution method respectively. Anti-hyperglycemic activity of fruit peel was observed using fluorescence microscope for in vivo study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ethyl acetate extract of P. granatum fruit peel (PGPEa) showed α-Glucosidase inhibition upto 50 % at the concentration of IC50 285.21 ± 1.9 μg/ml compared to hexane and methanol extracts. The total phenolic content was highest (218.152 ± 1.73 mg of catechol equivalents/g) in ethyl acetate extract. PGPEa showed more scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with IC50 value 302.43 ± 1.9 μg/ml and total antioxidant activity with IC50 294.35 ± 1.68 μg/ml. PGPEa also showed a significant effecton lipid peroxidation IC50 208.62 ± 1.68 μg/ml, as well as high reducing power. Among the solvents extracts tested, ethyl acetate extract of fruit peel showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Ethyl acetate extract supplemented C.elegans worms showed inhibition of lipid accumulation similar to acarbose indicating good hypoglycemic activity. The normal worms compared to test (ethyl acetate extract supplemented) showed the highest hypoglycaemic activity by increasing the lifespan of the worms. GC-MS analysis of PGPEa showed maximum amount of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 4-fluorobenzyl alcohol (48.59 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present investigation we observed various biological properties of pomegranate fruit peel. The results clearly indicated that pomegranate peel extract could be used in preventing the incidence of long term complication of diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Ethanopharmacology and Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Research Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Loyola College, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600034, India.
authors.forename: Kaliyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barathikannan
authors.affiliation: Ethanopharmacology and Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Research Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Loyola College, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600034, India.
authors.forename: Babu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Venkatadri
authors.affiliation: Ethanopharmacology and Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Research Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Loyola College, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600034, India.
authors.forename: Ameer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khusro
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Naif Abdullah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Al-Dhabi
authors.affiliation: Ethanopharmacology and Microbial Biotechnology Unit, Research Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Loyola College, Nungambakkam, Chennai, 600034, India.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agastian
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia. mvalanarasu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariadhas Valan
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Arasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Development of Ginseng and Medical Plants Research Institue, Rural Administration, Eumseong, 369-873, Republic of Korea. kyo9128@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Young Ock
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Antioxidants activity; Caenorhabditis elegans; GC-MS analysis; P. granatum; α-Glucosidase inhibition