Melatonin treatment maintains nutraceutical properties of pomegranate fruits during cold storage.

Abstract In this study, the mechanism activated by melatonin treatment at 100 µM for maintaining nutraceutical properties in pomegranate fruits during storage at 4 °C for 120 days was investigated. Our results showed that the higher G6PDH and 6PGDH activities in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may be responsible for sufficient supply of intracellular NADPH. Also, higher AA and GSH accumulation in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may ascribe to higher APX and GR activities coincided with lower AAO activity. In addition, pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin exhibited significantly higher PAL activity resulting in higher phenols and anthocyanins accumulation as well as higher DPPH scavenging capacity. Additionally, higher AOX gene expression in pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may be beneficial for ROS scavenging molecules accumulation. Therefore, maintaining nutraceutical properties of pomegranate fruits treated with melatonin may ascribe to sufficient intracellular NADPH supply by promoting G6PDH and 6PGDH activities during cold storage.