Evaluation of Antioxidant, Lipid Peroxidation and Toxic Effects after Pomegranate Intake in Healthy Human Volunteers

Abstract

Studies have extensively demonstrated the activation of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants as well as decrease of lipid peroxidation status after pomegranate intake without any observable toxicity in animal models. Comparing to animal model studies, human trials are less done on these aspects. Cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species appears to be a major contributor in ageing and other degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cataracts, compromised immune system, rheumatoid arthritis and brain dysfunction. Several literatures show that pomegranate has been used as a folk medicine from ancient times itself. As per the reviews, pomegranate fruit possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic and antitoxic effects. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the circulatory levels of selected antioxidant and lipid peroxidation marker in healthy human volunteers before and after pomegranate intake for a period of 0 - 90 days. As the secondary objective of the study, we also assessed the toxic effects of pomegranate supplementation by determining Hepatobiliary and Renal function tests. The final result showed that majority of the study population showed a significant increase in enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants and a decrease in oxidative stress after pomegranate intake without any observable toxicity in liver function and renal function. The significant healthy variations were more after the intake of pomegranate for a period of 90 days than that of 45 days.