Evaluation of phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of pomegranate flower

Abstract

Pomegranate is one of the most abundant fruits consumed in Turkey. This study aimed todetermine the content of total phenolic, total flavonoid, and antioxidant activity of Punica granatum L.flower in different extracts. Antioxidant activities of different extracts were determined 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging, reducing power, and metal chelating methods. The resultsshowed that the total phenolic content for the extracts ranged from 14.82 to 90.86 mg gallic acidequivalents (GAE) / g extract. The contents of flavonoids were found to range from 7.35 to 500.00 mgquercetin equivalents (QUE)/ g extract. All pomegranate flower extracts displayed remarkable antioxidantactivity according to DPPH and reducing power assays. Especially the methanolic extract of pomegranateflower possesses significant scavenging activity against DPPH• (85.80 %), as well as the largest contentsof flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract was alsogreater than those of BHT and α-tocopherol in DPPH and reducing power assays. The resultsdemonstrated that the antioxidant activity of extracts of Punica granatum L. flower might, at least inpart, have high content of flavonoids and other phenolics.