ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING PROPERTIES OF PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT

Keerthana Gnanavel, Elangovan Namasivayam*

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the oldest known edible fruit tree, originating in central Asia prominent for its high nutritional and medicinal properties. In this study, the antioxidant activity and free-radical scavenging activity of the three different acetone extracts of pomegranate fruit: arils with seeds (R), rind with inner septal membrane (Y) and whole fruit (F) [mixture of both arils and rind], prepared were assessed. DPPH scavenging assay, FRAP, Nitric oxide radical scavenging assay were the methods adopted to study the antioxidant potential of the extracts. Results conclude that, of the three acetone extracts of the pomegranate fruit, acetone extract of the whole fruit (F) has the highest antioxidant capacity when compared to Aril seed Extract (R) and Rind Septum extract(Y). The free radical scavenging property of the acetone extracts clearly shows its potential application in disease management.