title: Pomegranate extract protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and preserves brain DNA integrity in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interruption to blood flow causes ischemia and infarction of brain tissues with consequent neuronal damage and brain dysfunction. Pomegranate extract is well tolerated, and safely consumed all over the world. Interestingly, pomegranate extract has shown remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models. Many investigators consider natural extracts as novel therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of standardized pomegranate extract against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male albino rats were randomly divided into sham-operated control group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, and two other groups that received standardized pomegranate extract at two dose levels (250, 500 mg/kg) for 15 days prior to ischemia/reperfusion (PMG250+I/R, and PMG500+I/R groups). After I/R or sham operation, all rats were sacrificed and brains were harvested for subsequent biochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed reduction in brain contents of MDA (malondialdehyde), and NO (nitric oxide), in addition to enhancement of SOD (superoxide dismutase), GPX (glutathione peroxidase), and GRD (glutathione reductase) activities in rats treated with pomegranate extract prior to cerebral I/R. Moreover, pomegranate extract decreased brain levels of NF-κB p65 (nuclear factor kappa B p65), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), caspase-3 and increased brain levels of IL-10 (interleukin-10), and cerebral ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. Comet assay showed less brain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) damage in rats protected with pomegranate extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed, for the first time, that pre-administration of pomegranate extract to rats, can offer a significant dose-dependent neuroprotective activity against cerebral I/R brain injury and DNA damage via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and ATP-replenishing effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), 6th of October City, Giza, Egypt. Electronic address: mahapharm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maha A E
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein Helwan, Helwan, Egypt.
authors.forename: Engy M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: El Morsy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein Helwan, Helwan, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amany A E
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: ATP; Caspase-3; Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion; Comet assay; GPX; GRD; IL-10; MDA; NF-κB p65; Pomegranate extract; SOD; TNF-α