Abstract
Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has been used for centuries for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information focused on the properties of a certain pomegranate (poly)phenolic profile to cure pain and gastric injury induced by anti-inflammatory drugs. This study investigated the systemic effects of different doses of a HPLC-characterized pomegranate extract on the formalin-induced nociceptive behavior in mice. The effect of the extract against gastric injury caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ethanol was also assessed. Pomegranate reduced nociception in both phases of the formalin test, suggesting central and peripheral activities to inhibit nociception. Indomethacin-induced gastric injury was not produced in the presence of pomegranate, which also protected against ethanol-induced gastric lesions. The present results reinforce the benefits of pomegranate (poly)phenolics in the treatment of pain as well as their anti-inflammatory properties.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the students A. L. Flores Martínez and D. Ramírez María for their technical assistance.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
This investigation was partially supported by CONACYT-226454. Part of this work was also carried out within the CYTED Programme (Ref. 112RT0460) CORNUCOPIA Thematic Network (URL: redcornucopia.org). PM was funded by a grant of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme from Fundación Séneca (Murcia Region, Spain).