TOTAL PHENOLS, FLAVONOIDS, ANTHOCYANINS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF WILD POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.) BIOWASTE FROM MONTENEGRO

Abstract

In this paper, the content of total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins as well as antioxidant activity of 80% methanolic extracts of fruit peel and seeds of wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) collected from different localities of Montenegro were analyzed. The obtained results showed a high level of presence of these bioactive substances with a high level of antioxidant activity. Among the samples, the dominant higher level of these bioactive substances was determined in the samples collected in the coastal region, while the smallest amount was detected in the samples collected from the locality Carev Laz, in that with higher altitude. There was a negative correlation between the content of total phenols and flavonoids in the peel of wild pomegranate (r =-0.57), as well as a strong positive correlation between the amount of total phenols and antioxidant activity determined by the FRAP method (r = 0.81). In contrast to peel samples, in seed samples there was a positive correlation between the content of total phenols and flavonoids (r = 0.67). A high correlation was observed between antioxidant activity (FRAP method) and anthocyanin content (r = 0.96) as well as between antioxidant activity (DPPH method) and total phenols content (r = 0.84).