Paper Details

Studying seed and oil physicochemical characteristics of four Iranian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) varieties

Somayeh Mirzaee

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.8.78-86

Int. J. Biosci. 4(8), 78-86. April, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

The study aimed to evaluate pomegranate seeds of four Iranian commercial varieties (Vahshe Kane Tehran, Shirin Shahvare Yazd, Pust Sefid and Gorche Shahvar Yazdi) in terms of some qualitative properties including protein, oil, dietary fiber, mineral contents and fatty acid composition. In addition, physicochemical properties of pomegranate seed oils (PSOs) were also studied. The results indicated that Pust Sefid had the maximum value of oil (16.9%) and crude fiber (42.4%), and nutrition (460.7Kcal/100g) among selected varieties. Pust Sefid had the highest level of phosphorus (2766.3 mg/kg) and magnesium (2052.0mg/kg), while the highest calcium (675.3mg/kg) and potassium (3724.6mg/kg) belonged to Gorche Shahvar Yazdi. The main fatty acid identified by gas chromatography was punicic acid ranged from 72.07% for Gorche Shahvar Yazdi to 73.31% for Shirin Shahvare Yazd (p<0.05). The ratio of saturated fatty acids of PSOs was obtained between 9.174 and 9.450, and this value for unsaturated fatty acids was ranging from 10.325 to 10.861 (p<0.05). PSOs obtained presented acid (3.78-8.36% punicic acid), peroxide (0.39-0.48meq O2/kg), iodine (216.9-220.3g I2/100g) and saponification (179.3-182.5mg KOH/g) values. Also, refractive index at 25°C, viscosity and density of PSOs varied from 1.461-1.527, 0.036-0.063Pa.s and 0.9202-0.9311g/cm3, respectively.