The Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Apoptotic, and Antioxidant Effects of a Pomegranate-Peel Extract against Acrylamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

The Acrylamide is a toxic compound generated under oxidative stress arising from intracellular ROS production and induced toxicity. It is frequently used in industry and generated through the heating of tobacco and foods high in carbohydrates. The exact mechanism of its toxicity is still unclear. In this study, an extract of the peels of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a nutritious and visually appealing fruit with a diverse bioactive profile, was examined for its potential anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. A total of 40 adult male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups of 10 rats each: Group 1 was a negative-control group (CNT) and received normal saline; Group 2 was a positive-control acrylamide group and received acrylamide orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg/bw; in Group 3, the rats were supplemented with pomegranate-peel extract (P.P; 150 mg/kg/bw) orally on a daily basis for 3 weeks, administered simultaneously with the acrylamide treatment described for Group 2; Group 4 was a protective group, and the animals received the pomegranate-peel extract and acrylamide as stated for Groups 2 and 3, with the pomegranate-peel extract (P.P. extract) administered 1 week earlier than the acrylamide. The results indicate that acrylamide exposure increased the serum levels of AST, ALT, creatinine, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 in an extraordinary manner. In addition, it increased the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and simultaneously weakened antioxidant biomarker activities (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and reduced the levels of interleukin-10. The pomegranate-peel extract was shown to reduce the inflammatory blood markers of interleukin-1 beta and IL-6. Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and interleukin-10 were all significantly elevated in comparison to the acrylamide-treatment group as a result of the significant reduction in MDA levels induced by the P.P extract. In addition, the pomegranate-peel extract normalized the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3 levels, with a significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), and Bcl-2. Therefore, these data reveal that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, free-radical-scavenging, and powerful antioxidant activity that protects against acrylamide toxicity.

Protective Effects of Wine Polyphenols on Oxidative Stress and Hepatotoxicity Induced by Acrylamide in Rats

“…Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical contaminant that naturally forms during heat processing, at temperatures above 120 °C, by frying, roasting, toasting, grilling or baking of foods rich in carbohydrates and low in proteins [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. It is abundant in fried and roasted potato, vegetable crisps, cocoa and roasted coffee, bread and pastry, cookies, as well as in tobacco smoke, and, in lower concentrations, in breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, roasted nuts, homemade food, human breast milk, infant milk powder and a range of baby foods [ 21 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”

“…Acrylamide (ACR) is a chemical contaminant that naturally forms during heat processing, at temperatures above 120 °C, by frying, roasting, toasting, grilling or baking of foods rich in carbohydrates and low in proteins [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. It is abundant in fried and roasted potato, vegetable crisps, cocoa and roasted coffee, bread and pastry, cookies, as well as in tobacco smoke, and, in lower concentrations, in breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, roasted nuts, homemade food, human breast milk, infant milk powder and a range of baby foods [ 21 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. ACR can be absorbed through the digestive tract, respiratory system or through the skin and after exposure can be rapidly distributed to many tissues and organs, such as the thymus, thyroid, liver, heart, brain, spleen, kidneys, as well as the human placenta and breast milk [ 21 , 25 , 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms explaining the neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity following ACR exposure [ 28 , 30 ]. Increased ROS production, as a result of ACR exposure, may adversely affect cell survival, due to cell membrane damage by oxidative degradation of lipids, proteins, and irreversible DNA modification [ 21 , 25 , 33 ]. Lipid peroxidation, estimated through the level of substances reacting with thiobarbituric acid and of hydroperoxides, as well as products of proteins’ oxidation, such as carbonylated proteins, are markers of oxidative degradation produced by ROS [ 33 ].…”

“…Since it is vital to know the role of naturally occurring antioxidants in preventing the negative health effects of ACR exposure, several recent studies have evaluated these issues. Thus, Sayed et al, showed that pomegranate peel has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and free radical scavenging activity and strong antioxidant activity that protects against ACR toxicity [ 21 ]. In another study by Hamdy et al, hesperidin and tiger nut demonstrated an antioxidant defense against ACR toxicity in breast, liver and kidney tissues [ 34 ].…”

Characterizations of Six Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Varieties of Global Commercial Interest in Morocco: Pomological, Organoleptic, Chemical and Biochemical Studies

“…Pomegranate offers health benefits to the food system since it contains several classes of compounds that help to prevent diseases such as cancer [7] HIV [8], inflammatory [9] cardiac diseases [10], and some sperm disorders [11]. These benefits are attributed generally to several valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, sugar-containing polyphenolic tannins, and anthocyanins [12].…”