Biochemical Studies on Pomegranate

Water, methanol and ethanol were used to extract total phenols, total tannins, anthocyanin, flavonoids and antioxidants activity from pomegranate peels (Punica granatum L) by using different methods. The obtained extracts and juice were used to study  their  antimicrobial   effects   against  some  Gram   positive  bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenese, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus cereus), some  Gram negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Salmonella typi) and some fungi (Aspergillus niger  and Candida albicans). Also, pomegranate juice and peel water extract were used to study their biological effects against diabetic and hypercholesterolemia in Wister rats. Water extract at 50°C for 20 min showed the highest capacity for extracting total phenols, total tannins, anthocyanin and total flavonoids compounds from dried pomegranate peels. Methanol extract at 50°C for 20 min recorded the highest antioxidant activity. All extracts recorded good inhibition for all the tested microorganisms. Administration of pomegranate juice and peel water extract induced significant decrement  in blood serum glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol,  low density lipoprotein (LDL), urea, uric acid and creatinine in diabetic and hypercholesterolemia rats while, high density lipoprotein (HDL) elevated. Hematological parameters showed significant increment in white blood cells (WBC) in the diabetic group and in hypercholesterolemia group administrated with pomegranate juice red blood cells (RBC) and WBC showed significant increment.