Four pomegranate cultivars; namely, Edkawy, Manfaloty, Sahrawy and Wonderful were investigated in the present study. Yield, acceptability, colour measurement, physicochemical properties, bioactive components and antioxidant
activity of the juice extracted from both of the whole fruits and fruit arils were evaluated. Statistical significant differences were demonstrated in the measured parameters between cultivars and the source of the extracted juice. The yield of the juice was generally higher when extracted from the arils than from the whole fruits. Wonderful cultivar showed the highest yield of the four cultivars. The highest values of the total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, and total acidity were found in the extracted juice of Wonderful cultivar followed by those from Edkawy, Manfaloty and Sahrawy, respectively. The maturity index, indicated that the four cultivars belong to the sweet class of pomegranate. The L*, a*,b * Hunter colour values revealed that both of the whole fruit and aril juices from the four cultivars had a dark dull colour with purplish hue. The darkness and dullness were more pronounced in Edkawy juice than that of the other cultivars, especially Wonderful. The aril juices generally showed more darkness and dullness than the whole fruit juices. The most acceptable juice was that of wonderful, particularly upon extraction from the whole fruits. Except for the total anthocyanins ,the total phenolic compounds ,total flavonoids, total tannins and antioxidant
activity were higher in whole fruit juices compared with arils juices, particularly from Edkawy and Wonderful cultivars. In contrast, the total anthocyanin content was higher in aril juice than whole fruit juice, especially that of Edkawy cultivar.