Biopreservative Potential of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extract for the Preservation of Raw Cow’s Milk

The increasing demand for natural and sustainable food preservation strategies has led to growing interest in plant-derived extracts as alternative biopreservatives. Pomegranate peel, known for its richness in bioactive compounds, has gained considerable attention due to its pronounced antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pomegranate peel extract in enhancing the shelf life and preserving the quality of raw cow’s milk by assessing its biopreservative properties through microbiological and physicochemical analyses during storage at 4°C for 10 days. In the current study, hydro-ethanolic extract of Pomegranate peel was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS and seven compounds were identified. The identified compounds belong to different chemical classes, predominantly flavonoids. Initially, the antioxidant potential of the extract was evaluated through the DPPH antiradical test with an IC50=8.74±0.70 µg/ml. Subsequently, the antibacterial activities of this extract were assessed using five foodborne pathogenic microorganisms where MIC values were found to range from 1.53 to 12.50 mg/ml. Moreover, the extract from pomegranate peel at 2%showed a statistically significant impact (p