Investigation of Nutrient Content, Phytochemical Content, Antioxidant Activity and Antibacterial Activity of Inedible Portion of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Pomegranate is a plant with high potential to have antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. In the present study inedible parts (peel and seed) of pomegranate, variety “Bhagawa” were examined for the presence of phytochemicals, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanin, antioxidant and anti-microbial compounds. Further, nutrition value of the samples was also examined. Results of GC-MS analysis carried out using four different solvents showed 12 and 25 fractions for peel and seed extracts respectively. Both peel and seed were with high amount of Anthocyanin, Phenolic compounds and Flavonoids. Both extracts gave 100% free radicals reduction in DPPH assay showing high antioxidant activity. Further, both extracts showed antibacterial activity against eight tested food borne pathogens. Antibacterial activity shown by peel extracts was higher than that of seed extract. Both peel and seed extracts showed highest and lowest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocyatogenes respectively. Both extract showed same antibacterial activity which was shown by Kanamycin for Shigella fexneri. According to the present study, pomegranate peel and seed can be used to extract antibacterial, antioxidant compounds and flavonoids for the use in food industry.