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Abstract
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Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel and seeds are rich in phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, ellagitannins, tannins, and punicic acid, which exhibit potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Conventional extraction methods, such as maceration, Soxhlet extraction, and hydrodistillation, are limited by excessive solvent and energy consumption, prolonged extraction times, and degradation of thermolabile compounds. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) has emerged as a sustainable and efficient alternative, utilizing acoustic cavitation to disrupt cell walls, enhance solvent penetration, and accelerate mass transfer. This review presents a comprehensive and UAE-specific synthesis of research on pomegranate peel and seed bioactives, focusing on the effect of key parameters ultrasonic power, frequency, extraction time, temperature, solvent system, solid-to-solvent ratio, and particle size on extraction efficiency and compound stability. Optimization strategies based on Response Surface Methodology, Box-Behnken Design, and Artificial Neural Networks are critically discussed to demonstrate their roles in maximizing yield and predicting extraction performance. Structural and spectroscopic studies confirming ultrasound-induced morphological disruption and molecular interactions are also summarized. This review uniquely synthesizes UAE-specific process parameters, optimization models, and structural characterization for both pomegranate peel and seed within a green valorization framework. Comparative analysis highlights the UAE superior performance over conventional and hybrid methods (microwave-, enzyme-, or deep eutectic solvent-assisted extractions). The review also identifies persisting challenges related to process scale-up, standardization of reporting metrics, and in vivo bioavailability assessment. Overall, this work provides an updated framework for improving extraction efficiency and supports the green valorization of pomegra
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