Pomegranate peel attenuates aluminum-induced hepatorenal toxicity

The present study was undertaken to determine the potential role of methanolic extract of pomegranate peel (MEPP) in modulating aluminum chloride (AlCl3) induced hepatorenal toxicity in female rats. The effect of MEPP (200 mg/kg bwt) on AlCl3 (34 mg/kg bwt) induced hepatorenal toxicity, accumulation of aluminum (Al), hepatorenal functions and oxidant/antioxidant status of liver and kidney were determined. The changes of liver and kidney structures were investigated with hematoxyline and eosin, in addition, the anti-apoptotic effect of MEPP was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The present study showed an indication of carcinogenicity in the AlCl3 treated group represented by an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha and angiogenin and inflammation by inducing an increase in prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha. MEPP protected liver and kidney through reduce the Al accumulation, stimulated antioxidant activities and elevated the anti-apoptotic protein namely Bcl-2. Therefore, these results indicated that the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel has beneficial influences and could be able to inhibit Al-induced oxidative stress and histopathological alternations in liver and kidney of female rats, and these effects may be related to anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activities.