EFFECT OF POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L) JUICE ON CHANGES IN TISSUE GLUTATHIONE LEVELS OF RATS EXPOSED TO HIGH ALTITUDE HYPOXIA

Oxidative stress due to excessive production of free radicals in living organisms during exposure to hypobaric hypoxia is well documented. In search of a suitable antioxidant from natural sources, in the present study effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum, family Punicaceae) juice (PG) was evaluated on glutathione levels and related enzymes in tissues of rats exposed to simulated altitude of 6096 m. Twenty four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided in three groups i.e. 1) Normal, 2) Exposed to hypoxia and 3) Exposed to hypoxia and treated prior with PG (0.1g/rat) for 15 days. Blood glucose, liver glycogen, glutathione (reduced, GSH; oxidized, GSSG), glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, Y-glutamyl transpeptidase were estimated in liver, muscle and blood/RBC. Marked alterations were observed in these variables during hypoxia exposure. There was decrease in lipid peroxidation in muscle and restoration of GSH:GSSG ratio in PG treated group in comparison with untreated exposed animals. Results confirm recently reported antioxidant property of pomegranate.