Pomegranate peel had protective effects against barium induced renal oxidative damage. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Improvement of kidney redox states contributes to the beneficial effects of dietary pomegranate peel against barium chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in adult rats.
Arch Physiol Biochem. 2016 Feb 2:1-40. Epub 2016 Feb 2. PMID: 26835741
Awatef Elwej
CONTEXT: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L., Punicaceae) is known to possess enormous antioxidant activity.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the protective effects of pomegranate peel against barium mediated renal damage.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were exposed during 21 days either to barium (67 ppm), barium+pomegranate peel (5% of diet) or to only pomegranate peel (5% of diet).
RESULTS: Exposure rats to barium provoked a significant increase of kidney MDA, AOPP and H2O2 levels. Creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels in plasma and urine were also modified. SOD, CAT, GPx activities, NPSH and GSH levels were decreased. Metallothioneins production was increased and their genes expressions were up-regulated. All these changes were improved by dietary pomegranate peel. Moreover, the distorted histo-architecture in kidney of barium group was alleviated by pomegranate peel.
CONCLUSION: Our data showed, for the first time, the protective effects of pomegranate peel against barium induced renal oxidative damage.