Widely targeted metabolomics reveal the distribution of primary and secondary metabolites in pomegranate fruit

A total of 858 metabolites belonging to 11 classes were identifiedin pomegranate peel, seed and aril.Of which 647 metabolites showed statistically significant differences between the groups. Flavonoids mainly up-regulated in peel and aril; as were phenolic acids and amino acids in aril; tannins and terpenoids in peel; and lipids and alkaloids in seed. Some functional antioxidants, such as 10,16-dihydroxypalmitic acid, 3-O-methylellagic acid, and 3,3'-O-dimethylellagic acid, were first identified in pomegranate fruits.