Avaliação da atividade antioxidante e características físico-químicas de polpa de romã (punica granatum, l) evaluation of antioxidant activity and characteristics physical and chemicals of pomegranate pulp (punica granatum, l)

Several vegetables have been studied as a source of natural an oxidants instead of synthe c ones. Although well-known and with many beneficial proper es for health, such as an -atherogenic, an prolifera ve and an -inflammatory ac on, pomegranate is s ll li le consumed in Brazil. Studies have related pomegranate (Punica granatum, L) as a source of substances that have an oxidant proper es. An oxidants act by slowing aging and preven ng chronic diseases. They also prevent the damaging effects of free radicals and the oxida on of the molecules that make up the cell membranes. Synthe c an oxidants are poten ally carcinogenic when consumed in high doses for a long me. The objec ve of the present work was to evaluate the an oxidant ac vity in the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of pomegranate pulp Punica granatum, L, by the DPPH method, using BHT as a synthe c an oxidant standard and, addi onally, the physicochemical characteris cs of the pulp. The results indicated that the methanolic extract at concentra ons of 1mg / mL and 0.1mg / mL, obtained a percentage of inhibi on of 49.02% and 21.57%, respec vely, which indicates a very favorable result because it is an extract and not of isolated substance. Both extracts had lower inhibi on percentage than the synthe c an oxidant BHT. From the physical-chemical parameters found for Pomegranate Pulp in this study, only the pH value is below the minimum standard, described in Decree No. 50.040 / 1961, the other parameters are in agreement.