Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Punica granatum Peel Extracts

Pomegranate peels were powdered and extracted with ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol (MeOH), and water for 1 h each at room temperature. Radical‐scavenging activity of dried ethyl acetate, acetone, MeOH, and water extracts of pomegranate peels were compared with butylated hydroxyanisole at 5, 10, 25, and 50 ppm by high‐performance liquid chromatography method using 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl. MeOH extract exhibited stronger radical‐scavenging effect than others. MeOH extract showed marked reducing power in potassium ferricyanide reduction method. Antibacterial activity of acetone, MeOH, and water extracts was evaluated by pour plate method against a few Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. Acetone extract showed the highest antibacterial activity, followed by MeOH and water extract.