Pomegranate peel attenuates aluminum-induced hepatorenal toxicity

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the potential role of methanolic extract of pomegranate peel (MEPP) in modulating aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) induced hepatorenal toxicity in female rats. The effect of MEPP (200 mg/kg bwt) on AlCl₃ (34 mg/kg bwt) induced hepatorenal toxicity, accumulation of aluminum (Al), hepatorenal functions and oxidant/antioxidant status of liver and kidney were determined. The changes of liver and kidney structures were investigated with hematoxyline and eosin, in addition, the anti-apoptotic effect of MEPP was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The present study showed an indication of carcinogenicity in the AlCl₃ treated group represented by an increase in tumor necrosis factor-α and angiogenin and inflammation by inducing an increase in prostaglandin E2 and F2α. MEPP protected liver and kidney through reduce the Al accumulation, stimulated antioxidant activities and elevated the anti-apoptotic protein namely Bcl-2. Therefore, these results indicated that the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel has beneficial influences and could be able to inhibit Al-induced oxidative stress and histopathological alternations in liver and kidney of female rats, and these effects may be related to anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activities.

• Aluminum chloride
• kidney
• liver
• oxidant/antioxidant status
• pomegranate peel