CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON SOME POMEGRANATE PRODUCTS
S. Arafa
2013
Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Pomegranate fruit is widely used in food and processing industries due to its excellent nutritional and health value. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to produce pomegranate molasses by different methods and jam from pomegranate fruit arils, and measure the main quality characteristics of these products. Also, to study the effect of these products on general antioxidative status and some immune parameters in healthy young rats. It was found that pomegranate molasses produced by
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... with sugar and pomegranate jam achieved the highest scores for overall acceptability compared with other samples. Total soluble solids of pomegranate molasses produced by rotary with sugar were higher than the other pomegranate molasses as a result of sugar addition. Meanwhile, pomegranate molasses produced by heating method showed the lowest values for all color indices compared with other products as a result of severe heat treatment. Pomegranate molasses contained higher levels of Fe, Zn and Ca than juice. Pomegranate molasses produced by rotary without sugar contained the highest polyphenols (18.93 ± 0.63 mg/100g) and total flavonoids (44.71 ± 3.54 mg/100g) levels with the highest antioxidant activity. Feeding healthy young rats on different pomegranate products caused significant reduction in liver marker enzymes AST and ALT activities but significant increase in glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) in serum of rats relative to the control. The highest elevation in GPx activity was achieved by feeding group rat on pomegranate molasses produced by rotary without sugar at 11.75%. Also, feeding rats on different pomegranate products caused significant increase in the levels of serum iron, IgM and IgG levels. From the present results it could be concluded that, pomegranate molasses produced by rotary methods achieved the highest quality characteristics compared with other pomegranate products. Pomegranate products could be used in many foods and products to improve general antioxidative status and immune functions due to its many bioactive compounds.
doi:10.21608/ejarc.2013.214349
fatcat:4ja4y3v4jjcb5lnenhyuwamwoi