EFFECTS OF POMEGRANATE SEED METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON METHOTREXATE-INDUCED CHANGES IN RAT LIVER ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUNDS

Abstract

For therapeutic targets, use of pomegranate -a fruit with high polyphenol contents therein which accounts for its great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesis on the rise. Particularly, it might be so helpful in control of oxidative stress induced by drugs. Methotrexate (MTX) as one of the most important drugs that has been routinely prescribed to control numerous diseases is involved in oxidative stress induction. As a result, antioxidant administration during the treatment period appears to be necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pomegranate seed extract (PSE) could ameliorate methotrexate-induced oxidative liver injury in rats. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into orally received normal saline as placebo control group, orally received 500 mg/kg PSE group, intramuscularly received 10 mg/kg Methotrexate, MTX and PSE received group. After the intervention, all rats were euthanatized and liver tissue samples were taken for subsequent analysis on liver antioxidant system. Low liver activity of Catalase (CAT) in MTX group increased significantly following PSE administration (P=0.004), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) also showed a great but non-significant enhancement in co-administration of PSE and MTX group compared to MTX received group. Surprisingly Superoxide dismutases (SOD) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) which increased in MTX group tended to decrease in group received both PSE and MTX (p=0.149, 0.001 respectively). Although pomegranate methanolic extract increased CAT and GPx liver content, understanding its exact effects on antioxidant system is still murky and demands further researches on the current topic.