Analysis of the Phytochemical Composition of Pomegranate Fruit Juices, Peels and Kernels: A Comparative Study on Four Cultivars Grown in Southern Italy

The increasing popularity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), driven by the awareness ofits nutraceutical properties and excellent environmental adaptability, is promoting a global expansionof its production area. This investigation reports the variability in the weight, moisture, pH, totalsoluble solids, carbohydrates, organic acids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, antioxidant activities,and element composition of different fruit parts (juices, peels, and kernels) from four (Ako, Emek,Kamel, andWonderful One) of the most widely cultivated Israeli pomegranate varieties in Salento(South Italy). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic characterization of differentfruit parts from pomegranate cultivars grown simultaneously in the same orchard and subjectedto identical agronomic and environmental conditions. Significant genotype-dependent variabilitywas observed for many of the investigated parameters, though without any correlation among fruitparts. The levels of phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids of allsamples were higher than the literature-reported data, as was the antioxidant activity. This is likelydue to positive interactions among genotypes, the environment, and good agricultural practices. Thisstudy also confirms that pomegranate kernels and peels are, respectively, rich sources of punicic acidand phenols together, with several other bioactive molecules. However, the variability in their levelsemphasizes the need for further research to better exploit their agro-industrial potential and therebyincrease juice-production chain sustainability. This study will help to assist breeders and growersto respond to consumer and industrial preferences and encourage the development of biorefinerystrategies for the utilization of pomegranate