CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL OF POMEGRANATE GROWN IN INDIA: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

Six pomegranate varieties (Mridula, Bhagwa, Ganesh, Jyoti, G-137, Kandhari) grown in semiarid regions of India were studied for biochemical parameters including total antioxidant content and antioxidant activities. Total antioxidant activities were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (5.54-7.67 mol TE/g), cupric reducing antioxidant power (7.87-16.24 mol TE/g) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (8.98-15.47 mol TE/g) assays. Hypoglycemic potential was evaluated using a-glucosidase inhibitory assay and color attributes using L-star, a(star), b(star), hue angle and chroma values. Total phenolics, flavonoid and anthocyanin content range of 87.62-153.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, 8.54-23.99 mg QE/100g and 6.45-457.99 mg/kg, respectively. Total soluble solid, acidity, pH and ascorbic acid content varied between 15.72 and 18.18 Brix, 0.24 and 0.28%, 2.83 and 3.20, and 3.68 and 13.65 mg/100 g, respectively. However both Mridula and Bhagwa had the highest content of total phenolics, flavonoids, total anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic potential. Overall, antioxidant composition of pomegranate, especially total phenolics and total anthocyanin content, could provide an attractive strategy to manage postprandial hyperglycemia.