Pomegranate Seed Extract: A Strong Antioxidant against Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced Oxidative Stress in Albino Wistar Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant properties of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Punica granatum (Pomegranate) seed in testosterone induced benign prostate hyperplastic albino Wistar rats.
Study design: This study is an interventional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The experimental aspect of this study was conducted at the animal house, Department of Pharmacology, University of Port Harcourt between April and September, 2019.
Methodology: Seventy (70) adult albino male wistar rats were used for this study. They were divided into 12 groups of 5 rats each and fed with commercial rat diet and clean drinking water. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Punica granatum seed were prepared using the maceration method. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia was induced in rats after they submitted to bilateral orchiectomy by daily injections of testosterone propionate (TP) (4 mg/kg b.wt.sc). Rats were treated with 500 or 1500 mg/kg b.wt. of aqueous or ethanoI extracts of Punica granatum seed, dutasteride or in combination. Administration of extracts was done by gavage. Plasma total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, were analyzed using sandwich ELISA Kits by Shanghai Korain Biotech Co., Ltd, China, while oxidative stress indices (OSI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0 of Windows Stat Pac and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: The results showed that the mean TOS, TAS, SOD and OSI for the rats in the normal control group were 1.66±0.2U/ml, 2.71±0.25U/ml, 41.8±2.9pg/ml and 0.62±0.10 respectively. After BPH induction (group 2), the values were 3.25±0.5U/ml,1.17±0.14U/ml, 23.38±2.09 pg/ml and 2.81±0.60pg/ml respectively. There were significant decreases for TOS and OSI, and significant increases for TAS and SOD when the rats where treated with lower and higher doses of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Punica granatum and Dutasteride.
Conclusion: In conclusion, both doses of Punica granatum seed for ethanolic and aqueous extracts individually and in combination and with dutasteride markedly reduced total oxidant status, oxidative stress indices and improved the activities of antioxidant parameters like superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant status.