**4. Conclusions**

Fruits are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and biologically active compounds. However, they are often consumed without the peels although some fruit peels are rich in polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and other biologically active compounds that have a positive effect on health. Our results show that pomegranate peel and aril extracts increase serum PON1 activity, which may delay the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We also show that pomegranate extracts attenuate ROS production and lipid peroxidation in J82 human bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that pomegranate extracts from peel and arils protect against oxidative stress and exhibit anticarcinogenic activity against J82 cells. Finally, pomegranates may be a promising source

of cancer-preventing agents due to their high phenolic content. However, pomegranate peel extract exhibited a better potential effect than aril extract.

**Supplementary Materials:** The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2304-815 8/10/9/2219/s1, Table S1: Regression equations, linearity range, r, LOD and LOQ of all analytes, Table S2: Comparative evaluation of polyphenolic. flavonoid and anthocyanin content of peels and aril extracts of Sefri and various pomegranate (*Punica granatum*) cultivars.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, H.B. and L.B.; methodology, H.B., A.K., L.B., M.R., M.O.I.; software, H.B., M.R. and L.B.; validation, H.B., M.R. and A.K.; formal analysis, H.B., M.R. and L.B.; investigation, H.B. and L.B.; resources, H.B., S.B.; writing—original draft preparation, L.B., H.B., A.K. and S.B.; visualization.; H.B., G.F., A.H. and T.F.; A.K. and H.B. supervision, project administration and funding acquisition, H.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by Agence Nationale des Plantes Médicinales et Aromatiques), (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technique) and (Université Sultan Moulay Slimane), Morocco. 2020–2023 (H.B.) and by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant Number # PJT-162366) (A.K.).

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Sherbrooke University Institute of Geriatrics (# 2009/19). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.

**Data Availability Statement:** Data are contained within the article.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
