A REVIEW ON EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF POMEGRANATE

Lirin Mary M. K.*, Nipu Sam. P. George and Renjitha Krishnan

ABSTRACT

The aim of present study was to evaluate in-vitro antioxidant properties of Punica granatum fruit (pomegranate fruit) peel. Antioxidants are molecules involved in defense mechanisms against the deterious effects of free radicals in most organisms. Antioxidants are the agents responsible for currently being used for the evaluation of the antioxidants and free-radical scavenging properties of natural and synthetic antioxidants, including the DPPH method. The Punica granatum fruit (pomegranate fruit) peel powder suspension was the method adopted to determine antioxidant potentials of aqueous suspension of pomegranate peel powder. Results revealed that DPPH aqueous solution gave compared free radical activity 24 hours post preparation compared with the freshly prepared solution. After 24 hours, activity was greatly reduced. It is therefore recommended that freshly prepared DPPH solution should be used at all times, however for prolonged experimental schedules, the DPPH solution should be used within 24 hours post prepation, so as to give comparable results with the freshly prepared solution and avoid doubtfulness in results interpretataion. Aqueous suspension of peel powder showed good antioxidants effect. Percentage of inhibition increased with the increased concentration of extracts. The present study provides evidence that the Punica granatum fuits peels is a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Punica granatum, DPPH method, Flavanoids.