Abstract:
In this study, geographical discrimination of some
Iranian pomegranate cultivars was
investigated using chromatographic analyses and mul
tivariate statistical methods. The
organic acid content of 24 pomegranate samples of d
ifferent cultivars (5 sweet, 7 sweet-
sour and 12 sour cultivars) from different producti
on sites (Yazd and Markazi Provinces,
Iran) were analyzed by HPLC/UV. Ten organic acids i
ncluding oxalic, tartaric, malic,
shikimic, ascorbic, maleic, succinic, citric, aceti
c and fumaric were identified and
quantified in freshly prepared juices. The total or
ganic acid content was in the range of
105.4–2074.4 mg 100 g
-1
of pomegranate juice. Citric acid predominated in
most cultivars
especially in sour cultivars, while sweet-sour and
sweet ones were characterized by high
malic acid content. Principal Component Analysis (P
CA) indicated that principle
component 2 was responsible for discrimination of t
wo geographical regions.
Furthermore, Factor Analysis (FA) and Hierarchical
Cluster Analysis (HCA) showed the
high potential in complete separation of pomegranat
e cultivars based on geographical
origins.
Keywords:
Chemometrics, Geographical origin, HPLC, Organic ac
id profile, Pomegranate.
