Comparison of phytochemicals present in locally available Sri Lankan and imported Indian fruits of Punica granatum Lythracea

Abstract

Plants have been extensively used as medicine and for disease management since early days, due to presence of valuable chemical identities. Present study was carried out to compare the phytochemicals present in local (Sri Lankan) and imported (Indian) fruits of Punica granatum. Juice, peel and seed extracts of imported (Indian) and thirteen Sri Lankan P. granatum fruits collected from different localities were analyzed to determine the total anthocyanin (TA), total flavonoid (TF) and total phenolic (TP) content and were compared. Phytochemical analysis revealed that TA content is high in Indian fruits and TF and TP contents are high in Sri Lankan fruits. Peel and seed extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis and peaks were obtained. Among them 27 peaks were selected and their medicinal properties were identified. It was revealed that peel and seeds have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity.