Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice Shows Antioxidant Activity against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-Induced Oxidative Stress in Female BALB/c Mice

Abstract

Leishmania species are parasites that multiply within phagocytes and cause several clinical diseases characterized by single or multiple ulcerations. One of the complications that can induce tissue damage and the resulting scars is caused by secondary bacterial infections. Studies to find new, effective, and safe oral drugs for treating leishmaniasis are being conducted since several decades, owing to the problems associated with the use of antimonials available. Previously, the antiparasitic and antioxidant properties of Punica granatum (pomegranate, P. granatum) have been reported. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the antileishmanial activity of pomegranate aqueous juice in vitro and in female BALB/c mice. A 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in Leishmania major promastigotes and alterations in the antioxidant status, liver function, and skin histological changes in L. major-infected mice orally treated with pomegranate juice alone and in combination with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, were used to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of pomegranate juice, respectively. Oral P. granatum juice treatment significantly reduced the average size of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions compared with that of the untreated mice. This antileishmanial activity of P. granatum was associated with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Histopathological evaluation proved the antileishmanial activity of P. granatum, but did not reveal changes in the treated animals, compared to the positive control. In conclusion, P. granatum shows high and fast antileishmanial activity probably by boosting the endogenous antioxidant activity.

Perspective of Membrane Technology in Pomegranate Juice Processing: A Review

“…These results support the development of functional foods for the prevention obesity, diabetes and dyslipidemias [32]. Studies with mice models have demonstrated that pomegranate juice exhibits a protective effect against oxidative damage in Parkinson's disease as well as antileishmanial activity [33,34].…”

The effects of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using fig and olive extracts on cutaneousleishmaniasis-induced inflammation in female balb/c mice

“…In the present study, we demonstrate that Ficus carica Linn (Fig) and Olea europaea (Olive) extracts with (Ag-NPs) improve skin lesions and promote their healing and parasite resolution in Balb/c mice infected with L. major, this activity may be attributed to the presence of phenolic and flavonoids compounds which possesses antileishmanial potency by enhancing non-specific immunity by macrophages activation and inducing NO, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-gamma, so those chemicals and cytokines produce fundamental host defense system and kill the invading parasite [47][48] (NFOA) treatment caused a significant reduction in the average lesion size and complete healing after 21 days compared to standard drug Pentostam that needs more than 28 days for healing. This is in accordance with previous reports [49][50][51][52][53]. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formed during multiple normal processes in tissues and cells are involved in the pathogenesis of various parasitic infections including Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia lamblia, and Entameba histolytica [54][55][56][57].…”

Essential Oils from Croton Species: Chemical Composition, in vitro and in silico Antileishmanial Evaluation, Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Activities

“…Punica granatum juice treatment by oral administration significantly reduced the average size of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions compared with that of untreated mice, and antileishmanial activity of P. granatum was associated with enhanced endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities. 40 Ethanol and hexane extracts of 16 Brazilian medicinal plants were tested against stationary-phase promastigotes of L. amazonensis. This in vitro assay showed six potent extracts, with IC 50 values varying from 0.08 to 44.10 μg mL -1 .…”