Antioxidant effect of pomegranate extract in reducing acute inflammation due to myringotomy

Objective: To assess the effect of pomegranate extract on acute inflammation due to myringotomy. Design: Prospective, randomised study. Subjects: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group one constituted controls. Group two underwent myringotomy. Group three underwent myringotomy and also received 100 mu l/day pomegranate extract, via gavage, one day before and two days after surgery. Following sacrifice 48 hours after myringotomy, the animals' right ears were used to determine the concentration of reactive oxygen species, using the chemiluminescence method; left ears were used for histological study. Results: Reactive oxygen species levels were significantly decreased in group three compared with group two (p < 0.01). The density of inflammatory cells in group three was significantly less than that in group two (p < 0.01). Lamina propria thickness and vessel density were also significantly decreased in group three compared with group two (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results indicate that oral pomegranate extract decreases reactive oxygen species concentration and acute inflammation in the tympanic membrane after myringotomy.