Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Efficacy of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Pomegranate Peel

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel was extracted with water: ethanol (1:1) at room temperature and the extract was evaluated for antioxidant potential against AAPH induced lipid peroxidation in vitro in mice synaptosomes. In addition, its neuroprotective efficacy against rotenone-induced mortality, motor deficits and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster was also assessed. Extract showed high radical scavenging activity (RSA) as determined by DPPH and ABTS methods. Reconstituted aqueous extract showed inhibitory effect against AAPH induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate and synaptosomes. The extract also showed inhibition of acetycholinestrase (AChE) activity in the brain homogenate (IC50 =56.2μg/ml). The extract provided significant protection against rotenone, as determined by percentage mortality and escape tests. The experiments conducted on head and body of the flies indicate the protection offered by extracts, as determined by content of thiols and hydroperoxides and the levels of Catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), thioredoxin reductase (TRx), glutathione-Stransferase (GST) and acetylcholine esterase (AchE). INTRODUCTION: The rind of pomegranate (Punica granatum) is used as medicine or traditional remedy against diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites. Different parts of pomegranate have been known as a reservoir of bioactive compounds with potential biological activities. Pomegranate, especially the leaves, peels of pomegranate, decreased the dyslipidemia of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors (Lei et al., 2007). Anti-parasitic, anti-microbial and antioxidant activities of pomegranate leaves extracts were reported (Egharevba et al., 2010; El-Shennawy et al., 2010 and Wang et al., 2013). Several studies were reported the ability of pomegranate PPE to fight obesity (Al-Muammar and Fozia Khan, 2012), cancer and other human diseases (Lansky and Newman, 2007). (Singh, et al.,2002). The antioxidant activity, Phenolics in pomegranate leaves are thought to contribute in their health benefits (Lan et al., 2009). To our knowledge, a lot literature for anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase inhibitory and cytotoxic activities of P. granatum peel. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the antioxidant profile and neuromodulatory properties of ethanolic (or ethanol water) extract of pomegranate peel powder by using various in vitro methods, rat brain synaptosomes and adult Drosophila melanogaster. Modulatory efficacy of PPE against Rotenone induced oxidative stress markers in the head and body regions of Drosophila melanogaster. The results of the studies presented in this investigation report would be useful in utilizing PPE in the various products at appropriate amount and also will be helpful in biomedical sciences (Parkinson’s Diseases). 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collection of and processing of raw material: Pomegranate fruits were purchased from the local supermarket and were cut, rind, mesocarp, and capillary membranes were manually separated from the edible part manually. Rind was cut into square shape of approximately 1cm X 1cm size and was sun dried. Dried samples were ground to moderate coarse powder using mixer-grinder. The powdered samples were packed in polythene covers and stored in desiccators at room temperature for future experimentations.