Background: Pomegranate peel, a by-product of juice production, contains bioactive compounds with significant nutritional and therapeutic properties.

Objective: This study aimed to isolate and characterize polyphenolic compounds from Punica granatum L. peel and to evaluate their nutritional, functional, and mineral composition.

Methods: Extraction was performed using distilled water at 60 °C, followed by precipitation with gelatin. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) were used for compound identification.

Results: The tannin content in pomegranate peel was 77.8%, with rutin, isorhamnetin, gallic acid, and hyperoside being the main flavonoids identified. Mineral analysis revealed the presence of Ca, Na, Mg, Fe, Cu, and Al in the tannin powder.

Conclusion: Pomegranate peel extract demonstrated high polyphenolic content with potential applications as functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals.

Pomegranate peel, tannins, flavonoids

Gomez M., Martinez M. M. Fruit and vegetable by-products as novel ingredients to improve the nutritional quality of baked goods. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. (2018) 58:2119–2135. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1305946

Wu S., Tian L. Diverse phytochemicals and biological activities of an ancient fruit and modern functional food: Pomegranate (Punica granatum). Molecules. (2017) 22:1606. doi: 10.3390/molecules22101606

Kahramanoglu I. Trends in pomegranate sector: production, postharvest handling and marketing. International Agriculture for Life, Life for Agriculture. (2019) 3:239–246.

Afaq F., Saleem M., Krueger C. G., Reed J. D., Mukhtar H. Anthocyanin- and hydrolyzable tannin-rich pomegranate fruit extract modulates MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways and inhibits skin tumorigenesis in CD-1 mice. International Journal of Cancer. (2005) 113:423–433. doi: 10.1002/ijc.20587

Kandylis P., Kokkinomagoulos E. Food applications and potential health benefits of pomegranate and its derivatives. Foods. (2020) 9:122. doi: 10.3390/foods9020122

Kovalevskaya A. A., Drozdov A. N., Gyulushanyan A. P., Kalmanovich S. A. Development of sweet tincture formulations based on pomegranate peel. Scientific Works of Kuban State Technological University. No. 11, 2015. pp. 207–216.

Eshmatov F. Kh., Dodaev K. O., Maksumova D. K. Removal of citric acid and tannin from pomegranate juice. Storage and Processing of Agricultural Raw Materials. Moscow, 2012. No. 11. pp. 16–19.