Bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacities of seed oils from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Abstract Pomegranate and bitter gourd are two of the few edible fruits that contain conjugated α-linolenic acids (CLnAs) in their seeds. The CLnAs have been associated with many effects that are beneficial to health, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Samples of cold-pressed oils from pomegranate and bitter gourd seeds were evaluated for their phytochemical compositions (fatty acids, tocopherols and phytosterols), their qualities and their stability parameters. The in vitro antioxidant capacities of these oils were evaluated by β-carotene bleaching, DPPH• scavenging, ox...