Abstract

The pomegranate has been traditionally used as medicines in many countries. The study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of pomegranate in hepatic and renal tissues of rats. Eighteen adult male albino rats were randomly divided into three groups, six rats of each. The first group served as control and received saline (0.2 ml saline/ rat) by oral administration via epigastric tube. The second group received oral administration of 3 ml/kg pomegranate juice for 21 days and served as pomegranate juice (PJ) group. The third group received oral administration of 200 mg/kg methanol extract of pomegranate peel for 21 days and served as methanol extract of pomegranate peel (MEPP) group. Pomegranate has no effect on liver and kidney functions. The present data demonstrate that PJ and MEPP reduced lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide in both liver and kidney tissue homogenate. A significant increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of rats received pomegranate was observed. These findings demonstrate that pomegranate has a potent anti-oxidative effect.

Key words: Punica granatum, oxidants/antioxidants status, liver, kidney, rat.