Abstract

Pomegranate juice and related products have been long used either in traditional medicine and as nutritional supplements claiming beneficial effects. Although there are several studies performed on this edible fruit, only a few studies have been performed with pomegranate juice or its commercial products. 

In the present study, juices from three different varieties of pomegranate (one edible and two ornamental) as well as four phytochemicals naturally contained in the pomegranate fruit (ellagic acid, punicalagin, gallic acid and caffeic acid) were screened for their antioxidant capacities, through the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of pomegranate juice and its antioxidant molecules on cellular models, to assess their efficiency of protection against peroxyl radicals under physiological conditions. The pomegranate juices and the selected antioxidant molecules were successfully absorbed by human cells.  Although, the results indicate that the CAA measured in HaCat cells are not correlated with the ORAC values. Additionally, the protective effect on human DNA against oxidative stress was demonstrated with the pomegranate juice.

INTRODUCTION

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a native plant from Central Asia, specifically from Iran, where it spread worldwide (1). Pomegranate is an ancient, mystical and unique fruit borne on a small long-living tree, cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region, as far north as the Himalayas, in Southeast Asia, and in some areas of the USA (2). Nowadays, pomegranate is cultivated throughout the world, in subtropical and tropical areas, in variable climatic conditions, indicating its adaptability and a wide range of genetic diversity.

Evidence reveals the versatile use of pomegranate fruit in different cultures. Pomegranate has been used since ancient times for dyeing textiles; moreover, it has great importance in ayurveda and traditional medicines which are practiced in India. In the former, it is considered a “pharmacy”, and it is used as an antiparasitic agent (3), blood tonic (4) and to treat heal aphthae, diarrhea, and ulcers (5). Different health benefits have been attributed to this fruit and for this reason it has achieved the title of “super-fruit” (6). Pomegranate peel extracts have been found to be a suitable ...