Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extracts (PPE) have been shown to possess a significant antioxidant activity, which are attributed to its polyphenols including ellagic acid (EA) and punicalagin (PC). Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the anti-atheroscleotic effect of PPE, EA and PC in high fat diet (HFD) fed male rats. PPE (50 or 100 mg/kg bw), or EA (1mg/kg bw) or PC (7mg/kg bw) was orally administered for six weeks either with standard diet or after induction of hyperlipidemia. At the end of experimental duration, serum lipid profile, atherosclerotic ratios, liver antioxidant/oxidative markers, cardiac enzyme (Lactate dehydrogenase LDH), inflammatory marker (TNF-α) and mRNA expression of CD36 gene were analyzed. Administration of the HFD caused hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and an increase of LDL-C concentrations, whereas it decreased serum HDL-C in comparison to control rats. Also, HFD resulted in a significant elevation in malondialdhyde level and LDH activity in addition to a significant reduction in catalase activity and CD36 expression level. PPE and its purified polyphenols were able to attenuate all the previous injurious effects of HFD through bolstering the antilipidemic and antioxidant effects. In brief, PPE or EA or PC can be beneficial for the suppression of HFD-induced hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress as well as regulation of CD36 expression in rats.
Key words: pomegranate peel, Ellagic acid, Punicalagin, antilipidemic, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, CD36.
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