Local pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars are valuable plant genetic resources rich in bioactive compounds. In different fruit parts, the quantitative and functional variations of flavonoids are crucial for plant science, breeding, and phytopharmacology. Understanding the organ-specific accumulation of bioactive compounds supports the effective use of plant resources and identification of promising raw materials. The presented study aimed to investigate the biological activity of fruit juice, peel, and seed extracts of local pomegranate cultivars and determine their relationship with the flavonoid composition. In this study, the preparation of ethanol extracts proceeded from biomaterials of five local pomegranate cultivars grown under field conditions. The flavonoid composition analysis used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photodiode array (PDA) detection. Biological activity assessment was in vitro under isometric conditions. Extracts tested had concentrations ranging from 100 to 300 μg/mL. The results showed peel and seed extracts accumulated higher flavonoid levels, particularly gallic acid, rutin, and quercetin, than the fruit juice. These fruit parts exhibited greater biological activity, whereas juice samples showed lower activity. In conclusion, the peel and seed of local P. granatum cultivars proved promising resources for future breeding and functional product development.
Pomegranate (P. granatum L.), local cultivars, flavonoid composition, peel and seed extracts, plant bioactive compounds, HPLC-PDA
Among the local pomegranate (P. granatum L.) genotypes, the cultivar Qizil anor exhibited robust functional potential, particularly in peel extracts, highlighting its value as a promising source of bioactive compounds for future breeding and functional plant-based applications.