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Pomegranate peel attenuates dextran sulfate sodium-induced lipid peroxidation in rat small intestine by enhancing the glutathione/glutathione disulfide redox potential.

BACKGROUND
The peel of the pomegranate fruit is rich in polyphenols with antioxidant properties. We investigated the preventive effect of pomegranate peel (PP) powder against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced lipid peroxidation in the small intestine of rats. Rats were allocated to four groups: CONT group, fed a standard rodent diet; DSS group, fed a standard rodent diet and treated with DSS; PP1%+DSS and PP5%+DSS groups, fed a standard rodent diet supplemented with either 1% or 5% of PP powder and treated with DSS. Rats of the four groups consumed their diets for 25 days. Lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in plasma and MDA contents in the small intestine and liver. Glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) redox status and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in the small intestine and liver.


RESULTS
MDA content was higher (P<0.001) in the small intestines of the DSS group compared to the CONT group. The MDA content was reduced (P<0.001) in the small intestines of the PP1%+DSS and PP5%+DSS groups compared to the DSS group. The GSH contents and the GSH/GSSG ratios were higher (P<0.001) in the small intestines of the PP5%+DSS group compared to the CONT, DSS and PP1%+DSS groups.


CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that PP protects the small intestine against DSS-induced lipid peroxidation by enhancing the GSH/GSSG redox potential. Powdered PP is a promising agricultural by-product containing a mixture of bioactive polyphenols that can be used for the production of functional foods aimed at the prevention of oxidative stress-induced small intestine pathogenesis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.