Comparative Nutritional Evaluation of Fresh Pomegranate Fruit Extract with Packed Juice Samples

The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the nutritional facts of fresh pomegranate juice extract and pomegranate-packed juice sample. Two samples of pomegranate fruit were selected from the fruit market and two ready-to-drink juice samples were collected from the supermarket. All the samples were analysed for different physico-chemical parameters. The result of analysis of both fresh fruit juice samples and ready-to-eat juice samples were found in the range of, pH (2.96 – 4.09), conductivity (0.109 – 0.949 MS/cm), TSS (13 – 17.5 %), acidity, (0.0052 – 0.158 g/100ml), vitamin C (0.077 – 0.158%), crude fiber (3.01 – 5.33 %), sodium (15.9 – 21.8 mg/100ml), potassium (17.89 – 90.5 mg/100ml), calcium (3.2 – 81.6 mg/100ml), iron (0.088 – 0.767 mg/100ml), etc. The methods selected for analysis were very cost-effective and as per routine chemical and instrumental methods for analysis.

The study concludes that the pomegranate fresh fruit juice extract was found remarkably good amounts and significant values of various nutrition values less acidic, TSS, crude fiber, and ash. Minerals have various health benefits and results obtained from studies show that potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron are significant amounts in fruit juice extract (diluted). While sodium was found lower in fruit juice samples than in packed juice. The result clearly indicates that fresh fruit juice has better nutritional values and mineral levels are comparatively high than packed juice. Two-way ANOVA performed at p value of 0.05, shows the significant difference among sample variety and physicochemical parameters tested during the study. Correlation was also verified and it represents some parameters are very strong positive correlations and few showed negative correlations while various parameters had neither positive nor negative correlation among them. This study is very informative and various physicochemical parameters were analysed which are important and related to human health. This study can be extended for the extraction of various important biological molecules which would be very helpful for body metabolic activities and the study of medicinal properties.