Characterization of the key aroma compounds in four varieties of pomegranate juice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),gas chromatography-olfactometry(GC-O),odor activity value(OAV),aroma recombination,and omission tests

P omegranate(Punica granatum L.)has attracted considerable attention in world markets due to its valuable nutrients and highly appreciated sensory properties.The aroma profiles of 4 varieties of pomegranate juice,including Dahongtian(DP),Jingpitian(JP),Luyudan(LP),and Tianhonngdan(TP),were investigated via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-olfactometry(GC-O)analyses.A total of 43 volatile compounds were identified by using GC-MS.Among these compounds,16 were considered as potential aroma-active compounds as detected by GC-O.These compounds belonged to the classes of terpinenes,alcohols,and aldehydes.Eleven volatile compounds were defined as the main contributors to the overall aroma of pomegranate juice due to their high odor activity values(OAVs≥1).Aroma recombination and omission tests confirmed thatβ-myrcene,1-hexanol,and(Z)-3-hexen-1-ol were the key aroma compounds,and limonene,1-octen-3-ol,linalool,and hexanal were important aroma-active compounds in DP samples.

Protective effect of pomegranate juice on retinal oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

AIM： To investigate the effect of pomegranate juice（PJ） intake on overall oxidation status in retinas of diabetic rats.METHODS： Twenty-seven rats were divided into four groups as control（CO）, diabetic（DM）, control treated with PJ（CO-PJ）, and diabetic treated with PJ（DM-PJ）.The retina tissues were used to determine 8-hydroxy-2＇-deoxyguanosine（8 OHd G）, malondialdehyde（MDA）, reduced glutathione（GSH） levels, and the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase（SOD） and glutathione peroxidase（GSH-Px）. RESULTS： The levels of 8 OHdG and MDA were significantly increased in the retina of DM group compared to CO group（P=0.001, P〈0.001 respectively）. Both 8 OHd G and MDA levels were decreased in PJ-DM group compared to DM group（P=0.004, P〈0.001 respectively）. The activities of antioxidant enzymes GSH, SOD, and GDH-Px were significantly decreased in the retina of DM group compared to CO group（P≤0.01）. GSH and GSH-Px activities were higher in PJ-DM group compared with DM group（P=0.010, P=0.042, respectively） but SOD activity was not statistically different（P=0.938）. CONCLUSION： PJ intake is found to be effective in decreasing oxidative end products, and in increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic retinas of rats, which suggests it may be effective against oxidative stress in diabetic retinas.

Ameliorative effect of Punica granatum on sperm parameters in rats exposed to mobile radioelectromagnetic radiation

Objective:To study the effect of mobile emitted radio frequency electromagnetic radiation(RF-EMR)on sperm parameters(sperm count,viability,motility,progressivity,and morphology)and ameliorative effect of pomegranate juice in rats.Methods:Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups(n=6 in each group).GroupⅠwas neither exposed to RF-EMR nor given pomegranate juice,groupⅡ,ⅢandⅣwere exposed to mobile emitted RF-EMR for 60 min/day for 90 days.After 90-day exposure to RF-EMR,groupⅢwas supplemented with pomegranate juice for 90 days(1 mL/day)and groupⅣwas allowed to recover for 90 days without supplementation of pomegranate juice.GroupⅤwas supplemented with pomegranate juice for 90 days without exposure to RF-EMR.At the end of intervention,epididymal sperm parameters(sperm count,viability,motility,progressivity,and morphology)were measured.Results:The microscopic examination of sperm parameters such as sperm count,sperm viability,sperm motility,progressivity were significantly decreased in groupⅡ(the mobile RF-EMR group)compared to groupⅠ(the control group)(P<0.05).In addition,sperm morphology was also significantly altered(abnormal)in groupⅡcompared to groupⅠ(P<0.05).However,the sperm parameters including sperm morphology were significantly altered in groupⅢ(mobile RF-EMR+pomegranate juice)compared to groupⅡ(P<0.05).The sperm parameters including sperm morphology were not significantly altered in groupⅣ(the mobile RF-EMR recovery group)compared to groupⅡ(P>0.05).The sperm parameters were non-significantly increased in group V(the pomegranate juice group)compared to groupⅠ(P>0.05).Conclusions:Mobile RF-EMR exposure reduces the sperm parameters,which,however,can be reversed by treatment with pomegranate juice,indicating that pomegranate juice can be used as a nutritional supplement to improve sperm quality.