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Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between the chemical composition of juices obtained from fruits of autochthonous wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) grown in Montenegro and their cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Design/methodology/approach: To explore the potential value of wild pomegranate fruits, in vitro biological assays were carried out with juices whose composition was analyzed in detail for sugars, organic acids, vitamin C and phenolic compounds. The effect of juices on survival was determined in human lung A549, cervical HeLa and breast MCF-7 carcinoma cells by MTT assay. As a control, the cytotoxicity against normal fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) was monitored. Findings: Among cancer cell lines, considering the IC50 related to total phenolics, the lowest value – 13 µg/mL was found for the A549. The strongest effect on lung cells was assumed due to the favorable contribution of ellagitannins to total phenolics in juice as well as the given combination of anthocyanins and their synergistic action. For HeLa cells, the lowest IC50 value was obtained at 88 µg/mL, and the cytotoxicity could be matched with the effects of anthocyanins and catechin. For MCF-7 cells, the lowest IC50 was 504 µg/mL, and the elevated levels of vitamin C and ellagic acid derivatives should have a noticeable effect on these cells. Originality/value: This study provides an important contribution to the knowledge on the effect of phytochemicals from wild pomegranate juice on lung, cervical and breast cancer cells, in vitro. The present observations suggest that the juice of wild pomegranate has the potential in the fight against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Composition of wild pomegranate juice could differ greatly due to various factors. • P. juice is a rich source of flavanols, ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives. • Juices from whole fruits are more abundant in phenolics than ones from arils. • Content of punicalin derivative is near 9-fold higher in juices from whole fruits. • Wild pomegranate could be of importance for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The utilization of pomegranate (P. granatum L.) in various industries has recently increased. The consumption of pomegranate juice is highly recommended because of bioactive compounds that have a pro-health effect on the human body. The main aim of this study is phytochemical screening and comparison of pomegranate juices available at the Montenegrin market, prepared from whole fruits and arils of wild pomegranate. Besides the determination of basic juice parameters (pH, EC, TTA, and TSS), the quantification of sugars, organic acids, vitamin C, and phenolics was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. It was found that juice is a rich, good source of flavan-3-ols (2650―9820 mg L−1), ellagitannins (2010–6420 mg L−1), and hydroxybenzoic acids (720―3390 mg L−1). The juices prepared from whole fruits in comparison to the ones from arils have lower pH and higher content of numerous phenolics. The ratio between certain parameters was very high, especially for: punicalin derivative 1 (8.8), ellagic acid, ellagic acid dihexoside, digalloyl-hexoside 1, gallagyl ester 1, gallic acid, ellagic acid galloyl hexoside, ellagitannin 5, digalloyl hexoside 2, ellagitannin 4 (4.4). A significant difference in the content was not found for some acids, sugars, and all anthocyanins, i.e., exactly for 39 compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Quality of pomegranate juice could vary greatly between different local genotypes. • P. juice has similar or higher sweetness than apple, orange and sour cherry juice. • Most abundant phenolics are flavanols, ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives. • Level of anthocyanins in pomegranate juice is in positive relationship with soil Mg. • Some local genotypes are useful for genetic characterization and breeding purposes. The first detailed phytochemical screening was performed on juices prepared from arils of wild pomegranate fruits taken from several locations in Montenegro with the aim of their future valorization. Particular attention is paid to the effect of pomegranate growth conditions on the juice quality. In addition to the basic parameters of pomegranate fruits and juices, nine primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids and vitamin C) were determined in the juices. Among 97 phenolic compounds, 23 anthocyanins and their derivatives, 33 ellagitannins and derivatives of ellagic acid, 12 flavanols, 4 flavonol glycosides, 1 flavone, 17 hydroxybenzoic acids and 7 hydroxycinnamic acids and their derivatives, were identified. Flavanols (1137–4424 mg/L) as well as ellagitannins and ellagic acid derivatives (1849–2991 mg/L) had the highest concentrations in pomegranate juices. Juices from the pomegranates grown on two soil types had total analyzed phenolics ranging from 4387 mg/L (Eutric Cambisol) up to 8461 mg/L (Terra Rossa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]