Protective Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract against Diabetic- Induced Renal Histo-pathological Changes in Albino Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem worldwide. The overall prevalence of DM in adults in Saudi Arabia is 23.7%. But, according to recent reports people living in Saudi Arabia could face a lifetime risk as high as 60 per cent of developing diabetes. Diabetes mellitus causes serious complications in many body systems. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most debilitating complications of diabetes mellitus and it is a leading cause of death. Pomegranate is a native fruit to Al-Taif region. A number of biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacteria and antidiabetic have been reported for pomegranate extracts. The present study is conducted in order to demonstrate the protective effects of pomegranate peel extract against diabetic renal complications in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 100 male of albino rats will be used and divided into three groups; the first group, normal or sham group; the second and third groups will be subjected to induction of diabetes. The third groups will treated with pomegranate peel extract orally. Biomedical analyses will be made at intervals through the trial. At the end of the trial (40 weeks) the animals will killed and the kidneys will sampled and prepared for histo-pathological, ultra-structural and immuno-histo-chemical examinations. Finally, Statistical analysis for numerical data will be made. Results revealed that administration of pomegranate peel extract leads to an improving effect on the renal parenchyma in diabetic kidney indicated by healed glomerular tuft, healed renal tubules and healed tubular interstitial epithelial cells with restoring the normal glomerular tuft structures as well as the normal glomerular capillary wall thickness and normally tubular basement membrane thickness. Also it showed significant improvement in the blood level of glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol. It was concluded that pomegranate peel extract has marked improving effects against diabetic renal complications. So, we advise use of pomegranate in human nutrition as table fruit or juice for its antihyperglycemic effects, antioxidant activities as well as its antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory action.