title: Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract provides protection against mercuric chloride-induced oxidative stress in Wistar strain rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Lythraceae)] is rich in antioxidants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present work was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of methanol extract of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) against a rat model of oxidative stress generated by treatment with mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were injected with HgCl(2) (5 mg/kg body weight in 0.9% NaCl) for developing oxidative stress. The methanol extract of pomegranate peel (PPE) was suspended in 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose and fed to rats at 50 mg/kg body weight/day up to 30 days after HgCl(2) treatment. Biomarkers of oxidative stress including erythrocyte plasma membrane redox system (PMRS), lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), intracellular glutathione, and plasma antioxidant capacity as FRAP values were measured after PPE supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HgCl(2)-treated rats showed increased oxidative stress as evidenced by increased activity of erythrocyte PMRS 153%, lipid peroxidation 31%, and AOPP 290%. There was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease (25%) in plasma antioxidant capacity and intracellular glutathione (75%). Supplementation with PPE protected rats from HgCl(2) induced oxidative damage. PPE supplementation to control rats increased antioxidant defense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results clearly demonstrate that PPE treatment augments the antioxidant defense mechanism in mercuric chloride-induced oxidant toxicity. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of the increase in erythrocyte PMRS activity in rats after supplementation with any kind of antioxidant supplementation. This study emphasizes the need for characterizing PPE for potential unknown antioxidant compounds.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Dileep
authors: D
authors: Kumar
authors: Sandeep
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Amit Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Singh
authors: Syed Ibrahim
authors: SI
authors: Rizvi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D062107:Advanced Oxidation Protein Products / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D062107:Advanced Oxidation Protein Products; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D005978:Glutathione; D000432:Methanol