Abstract: Pomegranate is one of the major sources of polyphenoles and anthocyanins, which reveal high antioxidant activity. The contents of total anthocyanins and total polyphenols in pomegranate from 5 main varieties in China were determined, and their antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, FRAP assay, ferrous ion-chelating assay.. The contents of total anthocyanins and total polyphenols were in the range of 3.54－13.89 mg/100 g and 38.89－68.28 mg/100 g fresh pomegranate arils, respectively. The scavenging rates against DPPH and ABTS radicals were 24.30%－45.73% and 58.02%－83.40%, respectively, the results of FRAP assay 0.38－0.78, and the results of ferrous ion-chelating assay 14.73%－70.60%. Of the cultivars investigated, Kashen red seed sour pomegranate had the most powerful antioxidant activity followed by Yu pomegranate.

Key words: pomegranate cultivars, anthocyanins, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity