Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice and Peel Extract on Antioxidant Status Individually and in Combination with Metformin in Diabetic Male Albino Rats

Abstract

The experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice and peel extract on antioxidant status in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The study included seven treatment groups comprising of ten albino Wistar rats each. The various groups in this study included normal control Group I (NC), diabetic control (Group II (DC), diabetic rats treated with metformin at the rate of 500 mg/kg bw Group III (MF), diabetic rats treated with pomegranate fresh juice at 1mL/day Group IV(PJ), diabetic rats treated with pomegranate peel extracts at 100mg/day Group V (PPE), diabetic rats treated with pomegranate fresh juice 1mL + pomegranate peel extracts (100mg) at 50 per-cent dosage and metformin (half dose) Group-VI (PJ+PPE+MF 50%), diabetic rats treated with pomegranate fresh juice (0.5mL) + pomegranate peel extracts extract (50mg) at 50 per-cent dosage and metformin (half dose) (Group-VII (PJ+PPE @ 50% +MF 50%). Antioxidant status of rats was evaluated by estimating product of oxidative injury (MDA) and endogenous antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) in the liver on 3rd, 15th, 30th and 45th day. All the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) markedly reduced in diabetic control (DC) rats. However, treatment groups treated with pomegranate juice or pomegranate peel extract (Group IV to VII) individually or in combination showed a significant improvement in all the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD and GPx) compared to the diabetic control rats. It was observed that metformin substantially alleviated the effects of STZ in diabetic rats compared to all the treatment groups. Pomegranate peel extract was observed to have marginally improve antidiabetic effects compared to pomegranate juice. Combination of pomegranate juice and pomegranate peel extract with metformin at half dose and full dose also alleviated STZ induced diabetic effects significantly. However, there was no dose dependent and synergistic effect. It could be inferred that bioactive compounds of pomegranate juice and pomegranate peel extract have antiperoxidative effect due to their ability to scavenge free radicals or chelate metal ions in STZ induced rats.