title: Inhibitory Effects of Two Varieties of Tunisian Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Extracts on Gastrointestinal Transit in Rat.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to determine whether total and methanol juice extracts of two Tunisian Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) varieties (Garsi and Gabsi) protect against diarrhea as well as their effects on gastrointestinal transit (GIT) in healthy rats. In this respect, male Wistar rats were used and divided into control- and pomegranate-treated groups. The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated using the castor oil-induced diarrhea method and the GIT was assessed using charcoal meal. Our results showed that total and methanol P. granatum juice extracts produced a significant dose-dependent protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea. Pomegranate extracts and juice also decreased the GIT significantly and dose dependently. Importantly, the Garsi variety appeared to be more effective than the Gabsi variety on these two parameters. These findings suggest that pomegranate extracts have a potent antidiarrheal property in rats confirming their efficiency in the Tunisian traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Nutrition and Animal Physiology, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja , Beja, Tunisia .|2 Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Functional Pathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis , Tunis, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Souli
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Nutrition and Animal Physiology, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja , Beja, Tunisia .|3 Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte , Zarzouna, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sebai
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Nutrition and Animal Physiology, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Beja , Beja, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Kais
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rtibi
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte , Zarzouna, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Latifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chehimi
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte , Zarzouna, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakly
authors.affiliation: 2 Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Functional Pathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis , Tunis, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amri
authors.affiliation: 4 INSERM U1149 Biomedical Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine X . Bichat, Paris, France .
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Benna
authors.affiliation: 2 Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Functional Pathology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis , Tunis, Tunisia .
authors.forename: Lamjed
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marzouki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002368:Castor Oil; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005638:Fruit; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013045:Species Specificity; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002368:Castor Oil
keywords: diarrhea; gastrointestinal transit; minerals; pomegranate; rat