title: The effects of pomegranate on bacterial translocation in rats with obstructive jaundice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive jaundice may promote bacterial overgrowth and altered intestinal barrier function, with resultant increased bacterial translocation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate potential effects of pomegranate on bacterial translocation after bile duct ligation in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1 underwent sham operation; Group 2 underwent sham operation and simultaneous treatment with pomegranate; Group 3 underwent common bile duct ligation, and Group 4 underwent common bile duct ligation and simultaneous treatment with pomegranate. After 8 days, the samples of systemic blood, liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were obtained under sterile conditions for microbiological culture. The segments of the ileum were removed for histopathological examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bacterial translocation significantly decreased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (p = 0.007). The bacterial counts (Colony forming unit: CFU/g) of Group 3 were significantly higher than those of Groups 1, 2 and 4 (p < 0.05). The mean ileal villus heights in the Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 480.5±20.5 µm, 494.7±17.3 µm, 356.3±25.7 µm and 420.7±23.7 μm, respectively. The mean villus height in Group 4 was higher than that of Group 3 (p = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pomegranate has significant protective effects on intestinal mucosa barrier in obstructive jaundice and reduces bacterial translocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gümüs
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böyük
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aldemir
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilinç
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D029561:Lythraceae; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar