The potential of pomegranate peel (<em>Punica granatum</em>) in the treatment of obese and glucose-intolerant mice

Abstract

Obesity is a pandemic condition, absolutely out of control. Food assistance is among the main proposals for the management of the disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of aqueous pomegranate extract in a model of obesity, glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis induced by high-fat diet. The pomegranate extract was obtained from the association of green extraction techniques. Through the crude extract containing punicalagin and ellagic acid (main compounds), extracts with isolated fractions of these compounds were obtained. For the experimental study, Swiss mice were subjected to the obesity induction period for eight weeks. After, were treated for another 30 days with crude extract of 250 mg/kg (group HF+[1]EXT); punicalagin extract isolated 8.35 mg/kg (HF+Punica group); isolated extract of ellagic acid 0.208 mg/kg (group HF+EA), via gavage. Both the crude extract and its subfractions reduced the body weight gain for the HF+Punica group (1.1 g); HF+EA (0.92 g) compared to HF, while the HF+EXT showed significant weight loss (P<0.001). In the glycemic parameters, all extracts were able to reduce blood glucose when compared to the group with HF. Histological data of liver tissue showed improvement in hepatic steatosis, mainly in the crude extract group. Therefore, it was possible to demonstrate that the aqueous extract of the pomegranate peel, obtained by innovative extraction techniques, can be a potential strategy for the treatment and control of obesity.