The biodiversity of different traits of pomegranate fruit peels from a broad collection of diverse cultivars

Abstract

Abstract Since ancient times, pomegranate (Punica granatum) has been known to have compounds that contribute to human health. Metabolite analysis strongly suggested that unique metabolites belonging to hydrolysable tannins (HTs) and anthocyanins, contributed to these health-promoting activities of pomegranate. The peels of the fruit, which play a significant role in attracting consumers to purchase the fruit, contain high levels of HTs, which usually extracted into the pomegranate juice (PJ). This review focuses on studies performed on the peels of pomegranate fruits by analyzing a broad, bio-diverse pomegranate collection comprised of different cultivars from different countries. The review describes the changes in total phenolics content (TPC), antioxidants activity, color, taste parameters, anti-proliferative and anti-androgenic activities of the different pomegranate cultivars, as well as the relationships between TPC and peel quality during prolonged storage periods. The study shows that both genetic and environmental conditions contribute to the different desired traits.