Evaluation of phytochemical contents and antioxidant activity of pomegranate flower

Pomegranate is one of the most abundant fruit consumed in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the content of total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity of Punica granatum L. flower in different extracts. Antioxidant activities of different extracts were determined 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating methods. The result showed that, total phenolic content for the extracts was ranged from 14.82 to 90.86 mg gallic acid equivalents(GAE) / g extract. The contents of flavonoids were found to range from 7.35 to 500.00 mg quercetin equivalents (QUE)/ g extract. All pomegranate flower extracts displayed remarkable antioxidant activity according to DPPH and reducing power assays. Especially the methanolic extract of pomegranate flower possesses significant scavenging activity against DPPH• (85.80 %), as well as the largest contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract was also greater than those of BHT and α-tocopherol in DPPH and reducing power assays. The results demonstrated that the antioxidant activity of extracts of Punica granatum L. flower might be, at least in part, due to the existence of high content of flavonoids compounds and other phenolics.