Nutritional quality evaluation of different varieties of pomegranate under climatic conditions of Faisalabad

The nutritional value of different pomegranate verities was determined in the laboratory of Biochemistry, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad Pakistan to study the effectiveness of pomegranate juice as health responsive. The results showed that tested pomegranate varieties contained peels and seed percentage range from 34-40% and 28-39% respectively. Juice contained a much higher remarkable content of total soluble solids ranged from (15-19%), reducing sugar (10 to 14%), non-reducing sugars (2.8 to 5%), total invert sugars (13.8 to 18%), Vitamin-C (10.5 to12.6 mg/100 mL) and acidity (0.9 to 1.7%). Total phenols and antioxidants were higher in Sultan (1101µg GAE L-1 (gallic acid equivalants) and 41.5% DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) inhibition respectively) and lowest in NARC-1(1012 – 1101 µg GAE L-1 and 25.7% respectively). Therefore, the current results suggest that nutritional status of pomegranate variety, Sultan was better than Turnab Ghulabi, NARC-1, NARC-2 and Kandhari. It can be directed to incorporate Sultan (pomegranate) fruit juice for better nutritional status