Phytochemicals in Pomegranate Seeds and Their Effect as Hypolipidemic Agent in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Abstract

In the present study, pomegranate seed oils (PSO) were extracted and analyzed for their fatty acid profiles and total tocopherols. The defatted pomegranate seed residue (PSR) was evaluated for its total phenolic and scavenging capacities against DPPH. Dietary effect of pomegranate seed oil, defatted seed residue and their mixture (PSOR) on hypercholesterolemic rats was investigated. The results revealed that, pomegranate seed oil was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid (88.4%) and total tocopherols (905.5 μg/100g). Meanwhile, the pomegranate seed residue contained amount of total phenolics (14.8 mg/g) and exhibited high scavenging activity (98.2%). After 28 days of feeding period, atherogenic rats group (AC) revealed an increasing in level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), risk ratio, atherogenic index and lipid peroxidation compared with normal control rats group (NC). Supplemented diet with 5% pomegranate seed oil, 10% pomegranate seed residue and 15% of their mixture at the ratio of 2:1 respectively improved lipid profile of plasma as compared to AC group. Furthermore, the supplementation diets induced a significant increase in levels of reduced glutathione and a reduction in malondialdehyde level (MDA) when compared to AC group. In addition, the histopathological examination of the heart and aorta in rats group fed on hypercholesterolemic diet showed severe histological changes as compared to supplemented PSO, PSR and PSOR groups, these results reflect the protective effect of pomegranate seed fractions (oil and residue) against atherosclerosis and it have more potential as a health supplement rich in natural phytochemicals.