Abstract
The Acrylamide is a toxic compound generated under oxidative stress arising from intracellular ROS production and induced toxicity. It is frequently used in industry and generated through the heating of tobacco and foods high in carbohydrates. The exact mechanism of its toxicity is still unclear. In this study, an extract of the peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a nutritious and visually appealing fruit with a diverse bioactive profile, was examined for its potential anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 was a negative-control group (CNT) and received normal saline; Group 2 was a positive-control acrylamide group and received acrylamide orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; in Group 3, the rats were supplemented with pomegranate-peel extract (P.P; 150 mg/kg/bw) orally on a daily basis for 3 weeks, administered simultaneously with the acrylamide treatment described for Group 2; Group 4 was a protective group, and the animals received the pomegranate-peel extract and acrylamide as stated for Groups 2 and 3, with the pomegranate-peel extract (P.P. extract) administered 1 week earlier than the acrylamide. The results indicate that acrylamide exposure increased the serum levels of AST, ALT, creatinine, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in an extraordinary manner. In addition, it increased the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and simultaneously weakened antioxidant biomarker activities (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and reduced the levels of interleukin-10. The pomegranate-peel extract was shown to reduce the inflammatory blood markers of interleukin-1 beta and IL-6. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and interleukin-10 were all significantly elevated in comparison to the acrylamide-treatment group as a result of the significant reduction in MDA levels induced by the P.P extract. In addition, the pomegranate-peel extract normalized the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3 levels, with a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Therefore, these data reveal that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, free-radical-scavenging, and powerful antioxidant activity that protects against acrylamide toxicity.
Highlights
Acrylamide is a transparent, colourless, odourless, crystallized monomer [1]
These effects were overcome in the rats that were simultaneously treated with pomegranate-peel extract (Group 3)
Our results show that the mRNA expression of COX2, TGF-β1, and caspase-3 was pointedly upregulated in acrylamide-treated rats in comparison to the other groups, but this expression was significantly decreased in the rats co-treated with P.P. extract and acrylamide
Summary
Acrylamide is a transparent, colourless, odourless, crystallized monomer [1]. Glucose and asparagine react to form this product [2]. Acrylamide is abundant in tobacco smoke and contained in bread, crisps/potato chips, French fries, and coffee. Acrylamide can be absorbed through the digestive system, the respiratory system, or the skin [4]. Due to its low molecular weight and high water absorption, organic barriers such as the blood–placenta and blood–milk barriers permit the passage of acrylamide [5]. Vinyl groups, and NH2 and SH moieties in proteins work together to allow acrylamide to cross biological membranes [6], resulting in neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and malignant growth in mammals [1]
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