COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PUNICA GRANATUM PEEL AND VITIS VINIFERA SEEDS

Oxidative stress caused by free radicals contributes significantly to aging and various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative conditions. Natural antioxidants from plant sources have gained scientific attention due to their therapeutic potential and safer profile compared to synthetic antioxidants. The present study comparatively evaluated the in-vitro antioxidant activity of Punica granatum peel extract and Vitis vinifera seed extract using phytochemical screening and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Ethanolic extracts of both plant materials were prepared by maceration and subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis for the detection of phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was assessed at concentrations ranging from 100–800 µM by measuring absorbance at 593 nm using the FRAP method. Both extracts exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity with increasing absorbance at higher concentrations. However, Punica granatum peel extract consistently showed greater ferric reducing antioxidant power than Vitis vinifera seed extract at all tested concentrations. At 800 µM, the absorbance value of Punica granatum was 0.8, while Vitis vinifera showed 0.3. The superior antioxidant activity of Punica granatum may be attributed to its higher content of polyphenols, tannins, punicalagins, and ellagic acid. The study concludes that both extracts possess significant antioxidant potential, with Punica granatum demonstrating higher efficacy and promising applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic formulations against oxidative stress.