Antioxidant Effects of Pomegranate Seed Oil Against Pentachlorophenol Toxicity in Rat Tissues

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of pomegranate seed oil PSO on the oxidative stress induced by pentachlorophenol PCP in rats. Fourty Sprague-Dawley, 4-5 months old, 300g male rats were used in this study. Rats were assigned to four groups each containing 10 animals. First group was control group; no administration was made to animals in this group. Second, third and fourth groups were given PSO at a dose of 0.15 ml/kg bw, PCP at a dose of 40 mg/kg bw and PSO at a dose of 0.15 ml/kg bw+PCP at a dose of 40 mg/kg bw orally by gavage for 28 days, respectively. At the end of the study, brain, liver, kidney, testicle and spleen samples were collected. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured in tissue samples. PCP caused an increase of MDA level in brain, kidney, liver and testicle; a decrease of CAT activity in liver and spleen; a decrease of GSH-Px activity in brain and testicle and a decrease of SOD activity in brain, liver and kidney compared to control group. When PSO+PCP group compared to PCP group, MDA level decreased in brain, liver and testicle; CAT activity increased in spleen; SOD activity increased in brain and kidney. When compared to the control group and the group given PSO+PCP, the data of PSO+PCP group were generally similar to the control group. As a result, administration of PCP at the dose of 40 mg/kg bw for 28 days caused oxidative stress and administration of PSO at the dose of 0.15 ml/kg bw alleviated severity of PCP induced oxidative stress