Effect of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peels and It’s Extract on Obese Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Abstract

There has been an inverse association between fiber intake and cardiovascular diseases. Dietary supplementation with nutrients rich in antioxidants is associated with inhibition of atherogenic modifications to LDL, macrophage foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. Pomegranates are a good source of polyphenols and other antioxidants. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate peel powder and it’s extract on lipids metabolism in hypercholesterolemic male rats. pomegranate peel powder were added to hypercholestrolemic diet by 5, 10 or 15% as dietary fiber supplemented. While pomegranate peel extract were added to hypercholestrolemic diet by 1, 2 or 3% supplemented. Forty adult male rats were assigned to eight groups for four weeks feeding period; group (1) control negative, group (2) control positive hypercholesterolemic rats, groups (3, 4 and 5) hypercholesterolemic rats fed 5, 10 or 15% pomegranate peel powder as dietary fiber supplemented and groups (6, 7 and 8) hypercholesterolemic rats fed 1,2 or 3 % pomegranate peel extract supplemented. At the end of the feeding period, animal's blood were collected for serum lipid measurements. Results showed that hypercholesterolemic rats had highly significant changes in all tested lipids parameters comparing with control negative group. all hypercholestrolemic rats administrated with different levels of pomegranate peel powder (5, 10 and 15%) had significant decrease in food consumption and body weight gain ratio comparing with control positive group. Liver, kidney spleen to body weight ratio and all tested lipid parameters except HDL had highly significant decrease for all hypercholestrolemic rats administrated with different levels of pomegranate peel powder (5, 10 and 15%) or administrated with different levels of pomegranate peel extracts (1, 2 and 3%) comparing with control positive group. In conclusion, the potent antioxidative capacity of pomegranate peel powder or it’s extract against lipid peroxidation may be the central link for the antiatherogenic effects of pomegranate peel powder or it’s extract on lipoproteins. Moreover, It suggested that, consumption of pomegranate peel powder or it’s extract my modify the risk of hypercholesterolemia and it have more potential as a health supplement rich in natural antioxidants.