o:8365 PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) PEEL EXTRACT MICROENCAPSULATES en Peel of the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit takes up for approximately 50% of the total weight, is a byproduct which is usually discarded as waste. However, pomegranate peel (PP) is considered as a rich source of potent phenolic compounds, including ellagic acid and its derivatives which possess several functional and nutraceutical qualities, including lowering blood pressure, reducing oxidative stress, decreasing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and restoring heart health [1, 2]. The main aims of this study were to develop preserved microencapsulated systems of the pomegranate peel (PP) extract by spray-drying using two biocompatible carriers (pectin and its mixture with HP-β-CD) and to evaluate their physico-chemical properties as well as in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. Obtained micro-sized powders were characterized with high values of powder yield (> 78%) and satisfied moisture content, flowability and cohesive properties. According to the DSC analysis, carrier addition showed favorable impact on the thermal stability (up to 200°C) of examined microencapsulated samples. Chemical analysis showed that total phenolic content in spray-dried powders of PP varied between 373.15 to 427.88 mg GAE/g DW, with the punicalagin, punicalin, gallic acid, and ellagic acid as the most abundant individual bioactive compounds. Despite dilution effect, comparable free radical scavenging ability in DPPH assay was observed for microencapsulated and carrier-free powders (IC50: 6.51-7.60 μg/mL). Furthermore, examined samples showed great potential to control elevated glycemic levels demonstrating potent inhibition effects against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. Molecular docking analysis provided more deeper insight into molecular mechanisms of action, revealing high affinity of ellagic acid to inhibit α-amylase enzyme, while punicalagin and punicalin more selectively inhibited α-glucosidase. Antimicrobial activity assay revealed that the Gram-positive bacteria, including S. aureus and S. epidermidis as representative skin pathogens, were the most susceptible with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.75 mg/mL. On the whole, valorization of PP through microencapsulation process with pectin and pectin/HP-β-CD as coating materials represents a sustainable approach for the development of ellagitannin-rich products that have the potential to be developed into phytopharmaceutical and functional foods for the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. 1552100 978-963-306-963-9 2025-10-20T11:15:34.979Z 44 no 46 Milica Radan Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0002-6727-7624 46 Nada Ćujić Nikolić Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr Josif Pančić" Belgrade 0000-0002-6736-3637 46 Snežana Kuzmanović Nedeljković Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr Josif Pančić" Belgrade 0000-0003-4989-8758 46 Zorana Mutavski Institute for Medicinal Plant Research, ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0002-6998-0292 46 Nemanja Krgović Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0003-3611-9911 46 Smilja Marković Institute of Technical Sciences of SASA, Belgrade 46 Tatjana Stević Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0003-3399-7751 46 Jelena Živković Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0002-9684-2637 46 Katarina Šavikin Institute for Medicinal Plant Research ''Dr. Josif Pančić'' Belgrade 0000-0002-2086-9593 application/pdf 353425 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8365 no yes 1 70 92000004 71A10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 29th International Symposium on Analytical and Environmental Problems 239 239 University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Dugonics tér 13, Hungary 2023