Effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice on kidney, liver, heart and testis histopathological changes, and the tissues lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in lead acetate-treated rats.

D S Aksu,Y S Sağlam,T Aksu,S Yildirim

doi:10.14715/cmb/2017.63.10.5

Abstract

Pomegranate juice (PJ) contains relevant amounts of active biological compounds which alleviate the detrimental effects of chronic heavy metal exposure. This study investigated the protective potential of PJ against lead-induced oxidative stress. A total of forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups. The animals were fed a standard pellet diet and tap water ad libitum. The rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each group): control, lead asetat (2000 ppm), low-treated PJ- a daily dose of 2.000 ppm lead plus 30µl pomegranate juice (included 1.050 µmol total polyphenols, gallic acid equivalent), and high-treated PJ- a daily dose of 2.000 ppm lead plus 60µl pomegranate juice (included 2.100 µmol total polyphenols, gallic acid equivalent). The treatments were delivered for 5 weeks. After the treatment period, the tissues samples (kidney, liver, heart and testis) were collected. Tissue lead (Pb) and mineral amounts (copper, zinc, and iron), tissues lipid peroxidation level and antioxidant status, and tissues histopathological changes were determined. The results showed that the highest rate lead loading was in the kidney and the testis. Pomegranate juice was decreased the lead levels of soft tissues examined; increased Zn amounts in tissues of which the lead accumulation was higher (kidney and the testis); decreased the copper, zinc and the iron levels of the liver and heart tissues, without creating a weakness in antioxidant capacity of these tissues, restricted the oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation, improved both of the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalaz (CAT), and the level of glutathione (GSH) in all the tissues examined in lead-treated groups. As histopathological findings, the cellular damage induced by lead in the tissues of the kidney, liver and the heart were observed to have been partially prevented by PJ treatment. The protective effect of PJ was more pronounced in the testis compared to those others.

Highlights

Chronic exposure to lead results in its accumulation in vital organs, with serious pathological effects apparent in these organs after a short time of intestinal absorption [1,2]
Pomegranate juice was decreased the lead levels of soft tissues examined; increased Zn amounts in tissues of which the lead accumulation was higher; decreased the copper, zinc and the iron levels of the liver and heart tissues, without creating a weakness in antioxidant capacity of these tissues, restricted the oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation, improved both of the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalaz (CAT), and the level of glutathione (GSH) in all the tissues examined in lead-treated groups
An inadaquate number of studies has been carried out to determine the protective effects of phenolic compounds in pomegranate juice on mammalian tissues against lead accumulation and lead induced oxidative damage the structure and mode of action of phenolic compounds and pomegranate juice have been discussed

Summary

Introduction

Chronic exposure to lead results in its accumulation in vital organs, with serious pathological effects apparent in these organs after a short time of intestinal absorption [1,2]. Lead exposure causes renal dysfunction, liver cirrhosis, damage to the cardiovasculer system and anemia [3]. It can cause some pathological damages in the ovaries and testes, causes by poor reproductive performance [4]. Minerals are defined as metal, and they can cause cellular damage and toxicity by interacting with biological macromolecules in the presence of heavy metals such as lead [8,9]. The current therapeutic strategy for heavy metal toxicity is usually chelating agents These agents are generally non-specific with respect to metals, and they have many side effects.

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