Protective effects of Black pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel extract on tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidative stress in rat liver

Introduction: Black pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a native plant of East Asia which traditionally has been used as a folk medicine to treat many diseases. This research investigated the possible protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Black pomegranate peel extract (BPPE) on oxidative hepatotoxicity induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) in Wistar rats.Methods: The research was carried out with animal subjects randomly assigned to five groups. In the negative control group, 5ml/kg of normal saline was given orally. In the positive control group, the same amount of normal saline was administered orally for 5 days and a single dose of t-BHP was injected on the 6th day. In the test groups, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of BPPE was administered orally for 5 days and then rats were injected with a single dose of t-BHP on the 6th day. Rats were euthanized 24 hours after the last injection. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined from blood samples. Liver tissue was sampled to measure the level of Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT). Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and histological examination were performed on partial liver samples preserved in 10% formalin.Results: Pre-treatment with BPPE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) reduced ALT, AST, ALP, MDA levels and increased GSH level and CAT activity. Histopathology examinations revealed that BPPE significantly improved the histological changes in comparison with the positive control group.Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, we suggest that antioxidant-rich BPPE, showed a protective effect against oxidative hepatotoxicity induced by t-BHP in rats. The results illustrate the BPPE potency to reduce the level of liver marker enzymes, prevent lipid peroxidation, and adjust changes in antioxidant enzyme activity.

Keywords:

Black pomegranate , Hepatotoxicity , Oxidative stress , Tert-butyl hydroperoxide , Rat