Protective Effect of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Extract against Diabetic Changes in Adult Male Rat Liver: Histological Study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus could be result from disorders in insulin secretion or receptors, characterized by hyperglycemia. Natural antioxidants including pomegranate have hypoglycemic effect. AIM OF THE WORK: The present research was designed to evaluate the possible protective role of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) against diabetic-induced hepatic complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats, weighed 200–250 g and aged 3 months, were sorted into four groups: Group 1: Used as control, Group 2: Normal rats received PPE (200 mg/kg bw/day) given orally for 11 consecutive weeks. Group 3: Streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats, injected with 55 mg/kg bw of STZ, and Group 4: Normal rats received PPE for 11 weeks and then rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg/bw). Effectiveness of the PPE was assessed by measuring serum glucose and histopathology of liver tissue. Liver enzymes were also assayed. PPE was found to control diabetic hyperglycemia and decrease in body weight. Histological examination showed that pretreatment with PPE provided preservation against diabetes-induced hepatic histological changes (necrotic and apoptosis). RESULT: Alanine aminotransferase, alanine phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly elevated in Group 3 diabetics and decreased in Group 4 which confirmed histological finding. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the hypothesized possible protective effect of PPE against diabetic-induced histological and functional alteration of rat liver and advised its use by diabetic patients.