title: Protective effects of pomegranate peel against hematotoxicity, chromosomal aberrations, and genotoxicity induced by barium chloride in adult rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pomegranate peel (PP) has health benefits including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the biochemical composition and protective effects of PP against hematotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by barium chloride (BaCl2) in adult rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six each: control, barium (67 ppm via drinking water), PP (5% via diet), and their combination during 21 d. Oxidative stress was determined by MDA, AOPP, and antioxidant status: CAT, GPx, GSH, Vit C. Osmotic fragility (OF), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and micronucleus (MN) assays were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PP showed a rich composition of antioxidant compounds. DPPH test found IC50 value= 5.3 μg/mL and a high polysaccharides content (315 ± 5 mg/g of extract). In vivo study showed a decrease in red blood cells (70%) and platelet counts (46%), hemoglobin content (8%), hematocrit percent (7%), and an 80% increase of white blood cells in Ba-treated rats. A reduction in antioxidant status: catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities, glutathione, and vitamin C levels by 31, 21, 28, and 29%, respectively, and an increase in MDA (46%) and AOPP levels (72%) were also observed compared with controls. BaCl2-treatment showed a significant increase in the frequencies of total chromosomal aberrations with abnormal metaphases and micronucleus in bone-marrow cells. Oxidative stress induced by BaCl2 might be the major cause for chromosomal abnormalities leading to DNA damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A decrease in hematotoxic and genotoxic effects induced by PP is due to its powerful antioxidant capacity.
authors.affiliation: a Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences , Sfax University , Sfax , Tunisia ;
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elwej
authors.affiliation: b Unaizah College of Pharmacy , Qassim University , Qassim , Saudi Arabia ;|c Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics , Faculty of Medicine , Sfax , Tunisia ;
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.affiliation: d Hematology Laboratory , CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax University , Sfax , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Choumous
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.affiliation: c Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics , Faculty of Medicine , Sfax , Tunisia ;
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.affiliation: a Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences , Sfax University , Sfax , Tunisia ;
authors.forename: Najiba
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeghal
authors.affiliation: a Animal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Sfax Faculty of Sciences , Sfax University , Sfax , Tunisia ;
authors.forename: Ibtissem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Amara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017609:Barium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000633:toxicity*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017609:Barium Compounds; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002712:Chlorides; D005419:Flavonoids; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; C024986:barium chloride; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: Antioxidant status; BaCl2; Punica granatum L.; erythrocytes