Flavonols and Flavones Changes in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruit Peel during Fruit Development

Four Chinese pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars were analyzed for their individual flavonols and flavones (in fruit peel extracts) using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), with changes in flavonols and flavones as occurring during fruit development. The results revealed the presence of kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, luteolin, and apigenin in all the four cultivars. In addition, the concentrations of flavonols were found out as always higher than those of the flavones in different cultivars and throughout the different fruit developmental phases. Kaempferol was the most prominent flavonol in Hongbaoshi, Lvbaoshi and Shuijingtian, while myricetin the major and dominant flavonol in Moshiliu. The pattern of kaempferol was similar to quercetin in each individual cultivar, but quite differing among the four cultivars. The level of luteolin was higher than that of apigenin in all the cultivars. During test course, similar change patterns for luteolin and apigenin were revealed in each individual cultivar. This is the first report regarding the flavonols and flavones concentration changes in pomegranate peel extracts. The results indicated that the changes in flavonols and flavones were significantly affected by cultivar and its developmental stages. Moshiliu proved to be an excellent pomegranate cultivar with rich flavonol contents. It can be further studied for its potential uses being more fully exploited.