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Abstract
The peel of pomegranate fruit is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds with powerful antioxidant properties. We evaluated the therapeutic potential of pomegranate peel (PP) in the prevention of early pregnancy loss in a mouse model of embryonic mortality and abortion (female CBA/J x male DBA/2). CBA/J mice were divided into 3 groups: mice in control group (CONT group) were fed a standard diet, whereas mice in groups 2 and 3 were fed a standard diet supplemented with 1% PP (PP1% group) and 5% PP (PP5% group), respectively. All the mice were fed their diets for 10 days before mating and continued with the same diets for a further 14 days after mating. At day 14 of pregnancy the female mice were sacrificed and the placentas and maternal livers were harvested for measurement of the content of thiols and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as biomarkers of oxidative stress, and the enzymatic activities of total superoxide dismutase (TSOD), copper/zinc SOD (SOD1), manganese SOD (SOD2), selenium glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR). Diet supplemented with 5% PP improved embryonic survival and reduced embryonic mortality from 28.2% (CONT) to 8.5% (PP5%). This was accompanied by increased activities of placental TSOD, SOD1 and SOD2, and thiol content. Diet supplemented with 5% PP also reduced placental oxidative stress as demonstrated by a decrease of placental TBARS content. This study highlights the potential of interventions with PP-supplemented diet before and during early pregnancy, in order to ameliorate embryonic survival and prevent early pregnancy loss.
Acknowledgments
We thank Krawiec Angele, Sandra Grange, Laurence Puillet-Anselme (University Hospital Center of Grenoble, France) and Philippe Bolifraud (National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France) for their technical assistance. We are grateful to the staff of the rodent experimental unit (National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, France) for outstanding technical help and animal management. This study was financially supported in part by the Company R. Stiernon SA/SV (Ghislenghien, Belgium). We thank Bruno Stiernon (Oxylent SA, Ghislenghien, Belgium) for furnishing pomegranate peel powder.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
Author contributions
Kaïs H. Al-Gubory: Conceptualization, Resources, Investigation, Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing-review & editing. Catherine Garrel: Validation, Resources, Investigation & Methodology.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kaïs H. Al-Gubory
Dr. Kaïs H. Al-Gubory is a senior scientist at the Department of Animal Physiology and Livestock Systems of the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment. He obtained a BSc degree in Zoology and Microbiology from the University of Baghdad with a First Class Honours and completed his PhD in Natural Science at the University of Rennes, France. He held postdoctoral and research scientist positions with the French Medical Research Foundation before joining the French National Institute of Agricultural Research in 1990. He led research in reproductive health, nutrition and dietary antioxidant supplementation.
Catherine Garrel
Dr. Catherine Garrel is clinical pharmacist and head of oxidative stress laboratory at the Department of Biochemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacology of the University Hospital Center of Grenoble, France. She is consultant member of the French Sports Nutrition Society. She obtained a BSc degree in pharmacy and completed his PhD at the University of Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France in the fields of science, technology and human health. She led research in antioxidant supplements aiming at improvement of human health and disease prevention.