Phytochemical and antioxidant attributes of autochthonous Turkish pomegranates

This study was carried out to detect diversity in phytochemical characteristics among the 76 pomegranate accessions grown in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Total phenolics (TP), total anthocyanins (TA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), fructose (FRUC), glucose (GLUC), sucrose (SUC), and variables describing fruit, skin, and aril colors were investigated. These pomegranate accessions exhibited great diversity in values for TA (range of 1.1–63.3 mg cy-3-glucoside/100 g jw), TP (range of 108.0–944.9 mg GAE/100 g jw), and TAC (range of 7.4–17.5 mmol Fe2+/kg jw). The high levels of TP, TA, and TAC contained in fruit from the accessions ‘Ekşi 5’, ‘Tatlı 14’, ‘Antepnarı’, and ‘Tatlı 2’, with their dark red fruit peel and aril colors, make them particularly suitable for consumption as fresh fruit, aril extracts, and juice. The results demonstrated that the pomegranate accessions analyzed here showed variable TP, TA, and TAC profiles depending on aril color and maturity index group.

► Phytochemicals and antioxidants were evaluated in 76 Turkish pomegranate accessions.
► These pomegranate accessions displayed great diversity in TP, TA, and TAC levels.
► Pomegranate accessions with dark arils had the highest levels of TP, TA, and TAC.
► The TP and TAC contents of these pomegranate accessions are correlated.
► This data will help to improve the nutritional content of new pomegranate cultivars.