Comparison of potential preventive effects of pomegranate flower, peel and seed oil on insulin resistance and inflammation in high-fat and high-sucrose diet-induced obesity mice model

Abstract

Objective: The potentially beneficial effects of pomegranate peel (PPE), flower (PFE) and seed oil (PSO) extracts, in comparison with rosiglitazone, on adiposity, lipid profile, glucose homoeostasis, as well as on the underlying inflammatory mechanisms, were examined in high-fat and high-sucrose (HF/HS) diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Measurements: Body weight, body fat, energy expenditure, food and liquid intake, blood glucose, and plasma levels of insulin, lipids and cytokines were measured. Results: After two weeks, PSO (2 ml/kg/day) and rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg/day) had not improved glucose intolerance. After 4 weeks, both treatments significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and an insulin tolerance test showed that they also improved insulin sensitivity. Treatment with PPE, PFE and PSO, reduced the plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and PFE increased the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). Conclusion: PPE, PFE and PSO have anti-inflammatory properties. PSO also improved insulin sensitivity.

• High-fat/high-sucrose diet
• inflammation
• insulin sensitivity
• pomegranate flower
• pomegranate seed oil

Acknowledgements

The authors dedicate this work to the memory of Professor Michael A. Cawthorne previous director of Buckingham Institute for Translational Medicine, who passed away suddenly in July 2015.

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by the Buckingham Institute for Translational Medicine (BITM) at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. This study was also supported by a grant (awarded to Arij Harzallah) from MOBIDOC device launched under the Supported Project to the research and Innovation System (PASRI), funded by the European Union and managed by ANPR, Tunisia. It is part of a collaboration with Sanofi Winthrop-Tunisia Pharmaceutical. This study is a part of research programme of the Research Unit LR12ES05 “Nutrition-Functional food and Vascular Health LR-NAFS” and “DGRST-USCR-Mass Spectrometry” financed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Tunisia). The authors also report no conflicts of interest.