Quality indices and bioactive contents of pomegranate oil

Processors and nutritionists have extensively exploited pomegranate fruit due to its health benefits. However, very little emphasis is focused on the utilisation of waste generated during processing. This study investigated the value-adding potential of pomegranate fruit with special interest on pomegranate kernel oil (PKO). Effects of extraction solvents namely; n-hexane, petroleum ether and acetone on the yield, quality attributes and fatty acid profile, as well as functional properties of PKO obtained from three commercially grown pomegranate cultivars were examined. The yield of PKO ranged between 16.59-27.39% and was in the order 'Acco'>'Herskovitz'>'Wonderful', regardless of extraction solvent. Pomegranate kernel oil extracted with acetone had the least yellow colour and high contents of phenolics, tocol, linolenic acids and para-anisidine value. Punicic acid was the predominant fatty acid (59.90-69.85%) in PKO investigated. However, punicic acid content varied with extraction solvents, in the order petroleum ether>n-hexane>acetone. All investigated PKO showed good radical scavenging activity (89.50-91.60%). This study provided the basis for the exploration of pomegranate oil for commercial applications in food, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries.