Phytochemical study, potential cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of selected food byproducts (Pomegranate peel, Rice bran, Rice straw & Mulberry bark).

The aim of the study is to evaluate common food by-products (Pomegranate peel, Rice bran, Rice straw & Mulberry bark) to screen out their medicinal importance such as cytotoxic & antioxidant activities. HPLC revealed that all tested samples were rich in phenolics. Tested samples exerted significant antioxidant activity with high potency to Pomegranate peel. All tested extracts were able to reduce cell viability of tested cell lines in a dose-response manner after treatment. In most cases, the IC50 values were under 30 µg/ml except IC50 of pomegranate peel against breast cell line (42.4 ug/ml). The antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of pomegranate peel, rice bran, rice straw and mulberry bark have been attributed to synergetic effects of phenolic phytochemicals.