Fermented milk beverages supplemented with pomegranate peel extract and inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp longum were produced. The antioxidant activity of fermented milk beverages supplemented with pomegranate peel 150 mg/L (FMPO 150) and 300 mg/L (FMPO 300) was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). In addition, the polyphenolic profile and sugars content were determined by HPLC analysis, and the volatile compounds were identified using GC-MS analysis. The effects of FMPO 150 and FMPO 300 (10 g/day) on the lipid profile and antioxidant/biochemical status of rats were also evaluated after 4 weeks of oral intake. Antioxidant activity of the fermented milk beverage FMPO 300 was higher than that of FMPO 150. GC-MS analysis of the volatile compounds revealed that diacetyl, acetoin, and acetaldehyde were the major constituents. FMPO 150 and FMPO 300 were efficient in reducing the LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol and increased the HDL cholesterol in serum. Liver function biomarkers were not affected by the end of treatment (p<0.05). Also, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were decreased, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the liver (GSH, CAT, SOD, and GPx) were increased. Hence, the combination of pomegranate peel extract and probiotic lactic acid bacteria in a fermented milk beverage provides not only probiotic benefits but also bioactive phenolic compounds that could be functional and possess therapeutic effects.
Introduction: In the present research, the health benefits of the traditional Egyptian food called Kishk Sa′eedi (KS) and KS mixed with gum Arabic (GA) or with a mixture of GA and pomegranate seed oil (PSO) were studied in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by feeding high fructose high hydrogenated fat diet (HFFD). Methods: Rats were divided into a normal control group (NC) fed on a balanced diet (Diet 1), a MS control (MSC) receiving HFFD (Diet 2), and three test groups feeding on HFFD containing KS (Diet 3), KS with GA (Diet 4), and KS with GA and PSO (Diet 5), respectively for five weeks. Biochemical and histopathological changes were assessed. Results: Significant increase in blood glucose, plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), dyslipidemia and reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) were demonstrated in MSC compared to NC (P < 0.05). Significant elevation in liver fat, MDA and gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) with significant down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α) were noticed in MSC compared to NC (P < 0.05). The three test diets improved plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), uric acid, MDA, liver PPAR-α and IL-6 expression (P < 0.05) compared to MSC without affecting liver lipids. Blood glucose, plasma dyslipidemia, AST, creatinine and urea were improved by diet 3 and diet 5 (P < 0.05). Diet 3 elevated GSH and reduced ALT and MDA (P < 0.05). Histopathological changes induced by HFFD in both liver and kidney showed variable improvement by feeding the tested diets. Conclusion: The tested diets significantly improved MS rat model with superiority to diet 3.
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