Effect of Potassium Permanganate, Ultraviolet Radiation and Titanium Oxide as Ethylene Scavengers on Preservation of Postharvest Quality and Sensory Attributes of Broccoli Stored with Tomatoes.

This study introduces an effective solution to enhance the postharvest preservation of broccoli, a vegetable highly sensitive to ethylene, a hormone produced by climacteric fruits such as tomatoes. The proposed method involves a triple combination of ethylene elimination techniques: potassium permanganate (KMnO4) filters combined with ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) and titanium oxide (TiO2), along with a continuous airflow to facilitate contact between ethylene and these oxidizing agents. The effectiveness of this approach was evaluated using various analytical techniques, including measurements of weight, soluble solids content, total acidity, maturity index, color, chlorophyll, total phenolic compounds, and sensory analysis conducted by experts. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in the physicochemical quality of postharvest broccoli when treated with the complete system. Notably, broccoli subjected to this innovative method exhibited enhanced organoleptic quality, with heightened flavors and aromas associated with fresh green produce. The implementation of this novel technique holds great potential for the food industry as it reduces postharvest losses, extends the shelf life of broccoli, and ultimately enhances product quality while minimizing waste. The successful development and implementation of this new technique can significantly improve the sustainability of the food industry while ensuring the provision of high-quality food to consumers.

Tea pairings: Impact of aromatic congruence on acceptance and sweetness perception.

Food pairing is a relevant tool for the food industry and for culinary professionals to develop successful flavor combinations and memorable experiences, but it could also be useful for encouraging consumers to adhere to a healthier diet. The general purpose of this study was to further investigate the perception of teas and butter cookies with and without aromatic congruence, deepening in sweetness perception. The experimental included: 1) a projective mapping test (30 semi-trained panelists) to group tea samples and choose representatives of each aromatic group; 2) the determination of the main volatile organic compounds using Solid Phase Micro Extraction-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) to prove the aromatic congruence of the designed tea-cookie pairings; 3) a consumer study (n = 89) to assess liking, sweetness perception, of the single samples and pairings, and the pairing principles of the congruent and non-congruent parings. Results of the projective mapping showed that the tea samples could be grouped into 3 main categories by their herbal, fruity-sweet, and brown-sweet notes, results also supported by the GCMS data. Harmony was positively correlated to liking, and Balance and Similarity seemed to be related to aromatic "congruence", although all pairings were similarly liked. Sugar content was similar in all the cookie samples and pairings, but sweetness perception was significantly influenced by the aroma of the samples, being the samples and pairings made with spearmint the least sweet ones. Pairing a tea with sweet aromas with the spearmint cookie, independently of the kind of sweet aromatics (e.g.: coconut, almond, vanilla, fruity, tropical), seemed to slightly increase sweetness perception, although significant differences were not detected with other spearmint cookie pairings. Findings of the present research sum knowledge to the food pairing area, but further research is needed in recommending appropriate methodologies for pairing assessment, as well as the potential uses of driven pairings in specific food cultures.

Conventional vs. Organic: Evaluation of Nutritional, Functional and Sensory Quality of Citrus limon.

Organic farming is growing rapidly worldwide since it is perceived as more respectful of the environment than conventional farming. In this sense, organic agriculture is highly appreciated by consumers since consumers around the world believe that organic food has a higher content of beneficial compounds for health and consider it of higher quality. For that reason, the objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional, sensorial, and functional quality of the 'Fino 49' lemon grafted on Citrus macrophylla in conventional and organic cultivation. Fatty acids, amino acids, total phenol, and polyphenols were quantified, antioxidant activity was measured, and sensory descriptive analysis was performed. Conventional farming led to an increase in amino acid content (641 mg L-1) and an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (254 mg 100 g-1) and monounsaturated fatty acids (37.61 mg 100 g-1). On the other hand, organically produced lemon fruits had better sensory profile (highlighting overall aroma (6.5), lemon odor (6.8), sourness (5.8), floral (0.6), and fresh lemon flavor (9.8)), and lower thrombogenicity index (0.15). The type of cultivation (organic and conventional) had no influence on the antioxidant activity (~1.60, ~3.08, and ~4.16 mmol Trolox L-1 for ABTS+, DPPH•, and FRAP, respectively) and polyphenols content (85.51 and 86.69 conventional and organic, respectively). However, to establish the advantages and disadvantages of different types of cultivation on lemon quality more studies are needed.

Impact of Non-Thermal Technologies on the Quality of Nuts: A Review.

Nuts are widely consumed worldwide, mainly due to their characteristic flavor and texture, ease of consumption, and their functional properties. In addition, consumers increasingly demand natural or slightly processed foods with high quality. Consequently, non-thermal treatments are a viable alternative to thermal treatments used to guarantee safety and long shelf life, which produce undesirable changes that affect the sensory quality of nuts. Non-thermal treatments can achieve results similar to those of the traditional (thermal) ones in terms of food safety, while ensuring minimal loss of bioactive compounds and sensory properties, thus obtaining a product as similar as possible to the fresh one. This article focuses on a review of the main non-thermal treatments currently available for nuts (cold plasma, high pressure, irradiation, pulsed electric field, pulsed light, ultrasound and ultraviolet light) in relation to their effects on the quality and safety of nuts. All the treatments studied have shown promise with regard to the inhibition of the main microorganisms affecting nuts (e.g., Aspergillus, Salmonella, and E. coli). Furthermore, by optimizing the treatment, it is possible to maintain the organoleptic and functional properties of these products.

Effect of Pulsed Light on Quality of Shelled Walnuts.

Shelled walnuts are considered a microbiologically low-risk food but have been linked to some outbreaks, and a treatment aiming to decrease this risk is desirable. Pulsed light (PL) may be an alternative, providing it does not seriously impair their quality. This work assessed the impact of PL on some quality attributes of walnuts. To do this, measurements of rancidity, volatiles, total phenols, antioxidant activity, and descriptive sensory analysis were carried out on untreated and PL (43 J/cm2)-treated kernels. PL had no statistically significant (p > 0.05) effects on TBARS, peroxide value, total phenols, and antioxidant activity but significantly increased the concentration of volatiles related to green/herbaceous odors and decreased compounds related to fruity and citrus odors. The descriptors nut overall, walnut odor and flavor, and aftertaste were given statistically significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores, while descriptors woody odor and sweet received lower scores; 16 other traits such as all those related to color, texture, and rancidity were unaffected. No significant (p > 0.05) effects on total phenols and antioxidant activity in general were observed during the course of PL treatment. It can be concluded that PL technology may be used in shelled walnuts with only mild effects on their quality; a storage study must be carried out in order to determine the effect of PL treatment on its shelf-life.

Consumer Profile and Drivers Influencing Consumer Behavior towards Fondillón, a European Protected Naturally Sweet Red Wine.

Fondillón is a naturally sweet red wine, protected within the Alicante Denomination of Origin (Alicante, Spain) and recognized by the European Union in its E-Bacchus database. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the degree of consumer acceptance and satisfaction towards Fondillón, (ii) to establish key drivers controlling consumer satisfaction, and (iii) to establish a general profile of the typical Fondillón consumer. The experiment consisted of three complementary studies: (i) a descriptive sensory analysis of five Fondillón samples representing all samples being marketed, (ii) an affective test using wine consumers (n = 100), and (iii) an online questionnaire to identify the main characteristic of a Fondillón consumer (n = 294). The main consumption drivers were good balance, intense floral and fruity notes, and long aftertaste. The current typical Fondillón consumer is a 42-52 year-old man, with a higher education level, with a 25,000-50,000 euros/year income, and who drinks it mainly at home. The online study showed that 50% of respondents do not consume Fondillón because they do not know it, because it is very expensive, or because it is not so easy to find. Therefore, producers should improve their communication campaigns and distribution networks as key parts of their marketing strategies regarding Fondillón.

Bioactive compounds from Octopus vulgaris ink extracts exerted anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro.

Underutilized marine food products such as cephalopods' ink could be sources of bioactive compounds providing health benefits. This study aimed to assess the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects from Octopus vulgaris ink extracts (hexane-, ethyl acetate-, dichloromethane- (DM), and water extracts) using human colorectal (HT-29/HCT116) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells, and LPS-challenged murine RAW 264.7 cells. Except by ethyl-acetate, all of the extracts exhibited anti-proliferative effects without being cytotoxic to ARPE-19 and RAW 264.7 cells. Among DM fractions (F1/F2/F3), DM-F2 showed the highest anti-proliferative effect (LC50 = 52.64 µg/mL), inducing pro-apoptotic morphological disruptions in HCT116 cells. On RAW 264.7 cells, DM-F2 displayed the lowest nitrites reduction and up-regulation of key-cytokines from the JAK-STAT, PI3K-Akt, and IL-17 pathways. Compared to control, DM-F2 increased IL-4 and decreased NF-κB fluorometric expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Metabolomic analysis of DM-F2 highlighted hexadecanoic acid and 1-(15-methyl-1-oxohexadecyl)-pyrrolidine as the most important metabolites. These compounds also exhibited high in silico binding affinity (-4.6 to -5.8 kcal/mol) to IL-1α, IL-1ß, and IL-2. Results suggested the joint immuno-modulatory and anti-proliferative effect derived from selected compounds of underutilized marine food products such as ink. This is the first report of such biological activities in extracts from O. vulgaris ink.

Octopus vulgaris ink extracts exhibit antioxidant, antimutagenic, cytoprotective, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic effects in selected human cancer cell lines.

Cancer is a noncommunicable disease of rising worldwide concern. Marine food products such as Octopus vulgaris ink (OI) could be sources of compounds addressing these concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antioxidant capacity of OI extracts on human cancer cell lines (22Rv1, HeLa, A549). The ARPE-19 cell line was used as a reference human cell line to evaluate the ink's cytotoxicity. The water extract exhibited the highest antimutagenic and cytoprotective effect, but the dichloromethane extract (DM) showed the lowest half lethal concentration against 22Rv1 cells. Structural elucidation of purified DM fractions (F1, F2, F3) identified an unreported compound, N-(2-ozoazepan-3-yl)-pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide (OPC). DM-F2 showed high antiproliferative effect (LC50 = 27.6 µg/mL), reactive species modulation, early-apoptosis induction (42.9%), and nuclei disruption in 22Rv1 cells. In silico analysis predicted high OPC affinity with Cyclin D1 (-6.70 kcal/mol), suggesting its potential impact on cell cycle arrest. These results highlight the antimutagenic, cytoprotective, and antiproliferative potential health benefits derived from underutilized marine food products such as OI. Further investigations at in vitro or in vivo levels are required to elucidate mechanisms and health benefits from OI. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: O. vulgaris ink is an underutilized marine natural product that could be a source of biological compounds with potential health benefits such as antioxidant activity and cancer prevention.

Consumers' Attitude towards the Sustainability of Different Food Categories.

Currently, poverty, climate change, environmental pollution and the depletion of natural resources have generated a greater concern for sustainability. The objective is the survival of the human species and the persistence of all components of the biosphere. To achieve sustainability, human participation is essential; sustainable consumption depends on consumers' perceptions of sustainability and how they affect their behavior. The aim of this study was to understand consumers' perceptions and attitudes towards food sustainability based on country, age, gender, income and education level. An online survey was carried out in countries in Europe, America and Asia. Consumers were asked questions organized into food categories. The results showed that consumers' attitude towards sustainability is understood differently in each country, even within the same food category. Consumers with lower education level showed the lowest knowledge and concern about food sustainability. Older generations were less aware of sustainability and its related problems. While income level presented unclear results, gender did not affect attitude towards food sustainability. Therefore, to achieve a sustainable future, raising awareness among the population is increasingly necessary. Consequently, segmenting training campaigns according to the group they are aimed at will provide a greater impact and, therefore, greater awareness.

Fermented beverage obtained from hydroSOStainable pistachios.

Currently, consumers increasingly demand healthy foods, such as "vegetable drinks" made from nuts and cereals. In this scenario, the potential use of pistachios, grown under conventional and regulated deficit irrigation conditions (hydroSOStainable), to prepare fermented beverages was evaluated. This work addressed three important aspects: (i) water savings, (ii) use of noncommercial products, and (iii) expansion of the offer of vegetable drinks. Two commercial cultures of lactic acid bacteria (MA400 and MY800) and two sugars (glucose and fructose) were tested. Fermented drinks were evaluated by analyzing the following parameters: microbial counts, pH, titratable acidity, CIE (L* , a* , and b* ) color, and total fatty acid, volatile and sensory profiles; all parameters were evaluated at 1, 15, and 30 days of cold storage (4 °C). Pistachio-based beverages proved to be excellent substrates for the growth and survival of lactic acid bacteria. The fatty acid profile was not affected by the studied factors. However, the volatile profile was more complex for the treatments conventional-MY800 (80 µg/L) and hydroSOS-MA400 (72 µg/L). HydroSOS beverages fermented with MA400 culture were less sour and had higher intensity of umami and pistachio flavor; however, hydroSOS pistachios fermented with MY800 culture had lower pistachio odor intensity. All tested factors can be considered suitable for the preparation of fermented pistachios-based beverages, considering both technological and quality aspects.

Antioxidant Activities and Volatile Flavor Components of Selected Single-Origin and Blend Chocolates.

The biological activity of chocolates gains more and more attention of consumers. Its antioxidant properties depend, among other factors, mainly on the origin of cocoa and the characteristics that this origin gives to the final product. Therefore, the aim of the study was to measure and compare the total content of polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and key odorants of commercial chocolates made from blend cocoa with single-origin ones. The highest content of polyphenols was found in 90% blend cocoa chocolate and single-origin samples, while the lowest content was exhibited by 100% chocolate from blend cocoa mass. The highest antioxidant activity measured by 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays was observed in the sample of chocolate with 90% cocoa solids from blend mass, followed by single-origin chocolates. A high positive correlation between ABTS assay and the total polyphenol and phenolic acids' content, as well as among the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was found. Mineral composition analysis showed that dark chocolate is a valuable source of some elements, especially Mg, Fe, and Zn. Potentially toxic elements were not detected or below permitted limits. Moreover, it was noticed that the main volatile compound in all tested samples was acetic acid, but pyrazines were considered the most important group of chocolate odorants.

Consumer acceptability in the USA, Mexico, and Spain of chocolate chip cookies made with partial insect powder replacement.

In the last decade, consumer perception of protein as an important nutrient has increased exponentially and focused on alternative sources such as plant- or insect-based protein and microalgae. However, many consumers indicate that they do not consider insect ingredients, a potential source of high quality protein, to be a good choice in food products. But is it because of the sensory aspects? This consumer study was conducted in the United States of America, Mexico, and Spain to compare acceptability of a familiar product, chocolate chip cookies, in three "blind" variations: a control 100% wheat flour chocolate chip cookie, and two versions substituting 15% and 30% cricket flour for an equivalent amount of wheat flour. Two hundred consumers from each country were recruited and scored overall acceptability and acceptability of different sensory attributes for the three cookies. Acceptance was measured using a nine-point hedonic scale and a similar format was used for each attribute. US consumers did not find significant differences in liking between the control and 15% sample. The 30% cricket powder cookie showed a decrease in consumer acceptance. Mexican and Spanish consumers liked the 15% sample significantly more than the control and 30% sample. Spanish consumers also like the control more than the 30% sample. The substitution of 15% cricket powder does not negatively impact liking in this product and, in fact, may improve both liking and protein content. Further research is necessary to determine whether this finding can help to mitigate the impact of insect-containing ingredients. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High protein and sustainability are two key aspects being used to promote products in many markets. The protein content and sustainability of insect-based ingredients could make more competitive baked products if certain negative aspects, such as sensory and emotional and psychological barriers, can be overcome. This study focused on three specific countries but products using insect powder as an ingredient have the potential to be used in other regions or countries as acceptable products. With the correct marketing, such products could become a competitive choice in the product category. The food industry should consider and explore different insect powders/flours as an alternative ingredient.

Aroma-active compounds, sensory profile, and phenolic composition of Fondillón.

The Fondillón is a wine made from overripe grapes of the Monastrell variety, which is characterized by a high alcohol content and a minimum barrel ageing of 10 years. The objective of this study was to analyze the Fondillón volatile composition, key aroma-active compounds, sensory profile and phenolic composition. Fifty-four volatile compounds were identified, quantified and classified as alcohols, esters, acids, aldehydes, lactones, phenols, hydrocarbons and ketone. From these compounds, 22 aroma-active compounds were identified, with phenylethyl alcohol, diethyl succinate and ethyl lactate having the highest flavor dilution factor. The Fondillón wines were characterized by having high intensity of alcohol, fruity and toasted odor and flavor notes, and long aftertaste. Besides, 25 phenolic compounds were also identified and quantified; the phenolic acids (gallic, protocatechuic and syringic acids) were the predominant phenolic compounds.

Volatile, Sensory and Functional Properties of HydroSOS Pistachios.

Climate change, the increase in world population, and the intensification of urban and industrial activities, will cause a shortage of water for agriculture. This situation requires conscientious studies to manage water deficits without affecting the quality of the crops. In this study, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies and three rootstocks (P. atlantica, P. integerrima, and P. terebinthus) were applied to pistachio cultivation to study the quality of fruits obtained based on the morphological, functional, aroma, and their sensory properties. The results obtained demonstrated that RDI T1 (during phenological phase II of cultivation the stem water potential was maintained around -1.5 MPa) led to pistachios with same morphological properties, total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, volatile composition, sensory properties, better profile of fatty acids, and being the favorite ones for international consumers, as compared to pistachios obtained under full irrigation treatments. On the other hand, when P. integerrima was used, pistachios obtained had the highest weight, the lowest content of sucrose and the best functional properties.

Volatile composition of prickly pear fruit pulp from six Spanish cultivars.

This research analyzed the volatile composition of the fruits pulp of six prickly pear cultivars (NT, NE, NO, NA, FR, and ORI) growing in Spain, by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography (GC-MS and GC-FID). A total of 35 compounds were isolated, identified, and quantified, with aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes being the predominant chemical families, and esters, ketones, linear hydrocarbons, and terpenoids being also found. Nonanol, 2,6-nonadienal, 1-hexanol, 2-hexenal, and D-limonene were the predominant compounds. NT and FR cultivars showed the highest concentration of total volatile compounds. On the other hand, NE and NO cultivars presented the lowest concentration. Future studies on sensory evaluation are required to determine the sensory quality of the fruits of these Spanish cultivars.

Antioxidant, Antimutagenic and Cytoprotective Properties of Hydrosos Pistachio Nuts.

Pistachio nuts are included among the foods with the highest antioxidant capacity. Stressed cultivating conditions, such as the use of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), are expected to create a plant response that might increase the production of secondary metabolites. Fruits that are obtained under RDI treatments are commonly called hydroSOS products. The aim of this work was to study the influence of using different rootstocks (P. atlantica, P. integerrima, and P. terebinthus) and two RDI treatments on the antioxidant (ABTS, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH), antimutagenic (Ames test), and cytotoxicity (MTT assay in five human cell lines) activities of pistachios. P. terebinthus showed the best antioxidant activity, and the RDI treatments maintained and improved the antioxidant properties of pistachios. Neither the rootstock nor the RDI had significant impact on the antimutagenic potential of pistachios. The nut extracts had no toxic effect on non-cancerous cells and the application of RDI did not reduce their cytoprotective capacity. Furthermore, neither rootstock nor RDI treatments affected the ability of the pistachio extracts of preventing the oxidative damage by H2O2. The application of RDI strategies, in addition to allowing irrigation water saving, led to obtaining pistachios with the same or even better biofunctional characteristics as compared to fully irrigated pistachios.

Functional and sensory properties of pistachio nuts as affected by cultivar.

BACKGROUND: Modern agriculture allows farmers to choose among different cultivars of the same fruit to fulfill their agronomic needs and consumers' demands; however, there are only a few studies that describe and compare key functional and sensory properties of different pistachio cultivars. The main objective of this study was to compare eight pistachio cultivars by analyzing key functional properties (phenolic compounds, polymeric procyanidins, antioxidant activity, and inhibition of α-amylase and ß-glucosidase), aromatic compounds with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and by examining their sensory properties with a trained panel. RESULTS: A combination of LC-PDA-MS-QTof (liquid chromatography photodiode array quadrupole time-off flight mass spectrometry) and electrospray ionization was used to determine two phenolic acids, nine flavonols, one anthocyanin, and three flavan-3-ols in pistachio cultivars, with a total concentration ranging from 500 to 6065 mg 100 g-1 dry weight (dw). The total polymeric procyanidins concentrations oscillated between 348 and 5919 mg 100 g-1 dw, (-)-epicatechin being the major monomer contributor. Pinene was the most abundant volatile compound (∼200 mg kg-1 dw), and, in the sensory analysis of samples, 23 sensory attributes were found to differ significantly among the cultivars. CONCLUSION: The cultivar 'Larnaka' stood out as having the best functional profile (high polyphenolic content, high antioxidant activity, and high values of α-amylase and ß-glucosidase inhibition), and the cultivars 'Kastel' and 'Kerman' showed the most attractive sensory properties, mainly the most intense flavor. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phenolic and triterpenoid composition and inhibition of α-amylase of pistachio kernels (Pistacia vera L.) as affected by rootstock and irrigation treatment.

The current water scarcity forces farmers to adopt new irrigation strategies to save water without jeopardizing the fruit yield and quality. In this study, the influence of 3 regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments and 3 rootstocks on the functional quality of pistachios were studied. The functional parameters studied included, polyphenols, triterpenoids, and inhibition of α-amylase. The results showed that P. terebinthus and P. atlantica rootstocks led to pistachio kernels with higher contents of polyphenols and triterpenoids (mainly betulinic acid with 111 and 102 µg g-1, respectively) than pistachios obtained using P. integerrima rootstock (81 µg g-1). On the other hand, the use of moderate RDI (T1 treatment) increased the total content of polyphenols (∼10%), quercetin-O-galloyl-hexoside (∼15%), keampferol-3-O-glucoside (∼19%), and polymeric procyanidins (∼20%), as compared to the control trees, resulting in pistachios with a better functional profile, lower economic cost and with a lesser environmental impact.

Preharvest treatments with malic, oxalic, and acetylsalicylic acids affect the phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of coriander, dill and parsley.

The effects of a preharvest treatment with malic (MA), oxalic (OA), or acetylsalicylic (ASA) acid at three concentrations (1, 2 and 3mM) on the bioactivity and antioxidant capacity of coriander, dill, and parsley were investigated. The antioxidant capacity of the herbs extracts was assayed by spectrophotometric methods by using three different analytical methods: ORAC, FRAP, and ABTS; the effects of treatments were very positive in coriander, produced intermediate results in dill, and no effects were found in parsley plants. Polyphenol compounds were identified by LC-MS-QTof and quantified by UPLC-PDA-FL. Thirty phenolic compounds were identified in these three herbs. The major compounds were (i) coriander: dimethoxycinnamoyl hexoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, (ii) dill: neochlorogenic acid and quercetin glucuronide, and (iii) parsley: apigenin-7-apiosylglucoside (apiin) and isorhamnetin-3-O-hexoside. The application of these three organic acids favored the accumulation of phenolic compounds in coriander plants, but had no significant positive effects on dill and parsley. The treatments leading to the best results in all three plants were the application of MA or OA at 1mM.

Antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel extracts as affected by cultivar.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have reported that different parts of the pomegranate fruit, especially the peel, may act as potential antimicrobial agents and thus might be proposed as a safe natural alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents. The high tannin content, especially punicalagin, found in pomegranate extracts, has been reported as the main compound responsible for such antimicrobial activity. Because the pomegranate peel chemical composition may vary with the type of cultivar (sweet, sour-sweet and sour), pomegranates may also differ with respect to their antimicrobial capacity. RESULTS: The extract from PTO8 pomegranate cultivar peel had the highest antimicrobial activity, as well as the highest punicalagins (α and ß) and ellagic acid concentrations. In the results obtained from both antibacterial and antifungal activity studies, the sour-sweet pomegranate cultivar PTO8 showed the best antimicrobial activity, and the highest ellagic acid concentrations. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that ellagic acid content has a significant influence on the antimicrobial activity of the pomegranate extracts investigated. The pomegranate peel of the PTO8 cultivar is a good source of antifungal and antibacterial compounds, and may represent an alternative to antimicrobial agents of synthetic origin. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.