तेरडा

 

संदर्भ

Plants (Basel). 2026 Jun 1;15(11):1716. doi: 10.3390/plants15111716

अँटीऑक्सिडंट क्रिया आणि लिपिड संचय-प्रतिबंधक

इम्पेशियन्स बाल्सामिना एल. च्या बिया आणि कॅलस अर्कांचे परिणाम

ये-यून हा 1,†, गा-राम यू 2,†, ह्युक किम 3, डोंग-वू लिम 2,*, जाई-यून किम 4,*

संपादक: कलिना डानोवा, लॉरा पिस्टेली, इलारिया मार्चिओनिटेराडा

प्रस्तावना

इम्पेशियन्स बाल्सामिना एल. ही बाल्सामिनेसी कुळातील एक वार्षिक औषधी वनस्पती आहे [1]

.  जरी ही वनस्पती मूळची दक्षिण आशियातील असली तरी, संपूर्ण आशियामध्ये शोभेची आणि औषधी वनस्पती म्हणून तिची मोठ्या प्रमाणावर लागवड केली जाते आणि इतर प्रदेशांमध्येही तिचा प्रसार झाला आहे.

वांशिक औषधशास्त्रीय अभ्यासांनुसार, संधिवात, वेदना, जखमा आणि नखांची सूज यांच्या उपचारांमध्ये तिचा पारंपरिक वापर केला जातो, तर प्रसूतीनंतरच्या वेदना कमी करण्यासाठी तिच्या बियांचाही वापर केला जातो [2,3].

वनस्पती-रासायनिक अभ्यासांनुसार, आय. बाल्सामिनामध्ये फिनॉलिक्स, फ्लेव्होनॉइड्स आणि नॅफ्थोक्विनोन्स [4] यांसारखे विविध जैव-सक्रिय संयुगे आढळतात.

वनस्पतीच्या वरच्या भागातील, विशेषतः खोड आणि पानांमधील अर्कांनी लक्षणीय अँटीऑक्सिडंट क्रिया दर्शविली आहे, ज्याचे श्रेय मोठ्या प्रमाणावर या फिनॉलिक आणि फ्लेव्होनॉइड घटकांना दिले जाते [5,6].

तथापि, या निष्कर्षांनंतरही, बियांच्या अँटीऑक्सिडंट क्षमतेवर विशेष लक्ष केंद्रित करणारे अभ्यास मर्यादित आहेत आणि बियांपासून मिळणाऱ्या कॅलसबद्दलची माहिती दुर्मिळ आहे.

बिया साठवण अवयव म्हणून कार्य करतात, जे सुप्तावस्था आणि अंकुरणाच्या काळात संरक्षणासाठी आवश्यक असलेले विशेष चयापचय पदार्थ जमा करतात, ज्यामुळे पेशीय रेडॉक्स संतुलनात योगदान मिळते.  विशेषतः, फिनॉलिक्स आणि फ्लेव्होनॉइड्स हे प्रमुख नॉन-एन्झायमॅटिक अँटिऑक्सिडंट्स म्हणून ओळखले जातात जे बायोमॉलिक्यूल्सचे ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह नुकसानापासून संरक्षण करतात [7,8,9].

याउलट, कॅलस ऊतींमध्ये इन विट्रो कल्चर परिस्थितीत तयार झालेल्या डी-डिफरेंशिएटेड आणि असंघटित पेशी असतात आणि ऊती-विशिष्ट बायोसिंथेटिक मार्गांच्या अपूर्ण विकासामुळे अनेकदा दुय्यम मेटाबोलाइट्सचे कमी संचयन दिसून येते [10,11]. म्हणून, बियाणे आणि बियांपासून तयार झालेल्या कॅलसचे तुलनात्मक विश्लेषण फायटोकेमिकल रचना आणि अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्रियाकलापांमधील ऊती-आधारित फरक तपासण्यासाठी एक उपयुक्त मॉडेल प्रदान करते [12].

रिॲक्टिव्ह ऑक्सिजन स्पीशीज (ROS), ज्यामध्ये सुपरऑक्साइड ॲनायन्स, हायड्रॉक्सिल रॅडिकल्स आणि हायड्रोजन पेरॉक्साइड यांचा समावेश आहे, सामान्य चयापचय दरम्यान सतत तयार होतात. जरी ROS पेशीय सिग्नलिंगमध्ये आवश्यक भूमिका बजावत असले तरी, त्यांचे अत्यधिक संचयन रेडॉक्स होमियोस्टॅसिसमध्ये व्यत्यय आणते आणि ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह ताण निर्माण करते, ज्यामुळे लिपिड्स, प्रथिने आणि न्यूक्लिक ॲसिडचे नुकसान होते [13,14,15].

ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह स्ट्रेस हा विविध चयापचय आणि अपक्षयी रोगांच्या विकासाशी आणि प्रगतीशी जवळून संबंधित आहे, ज्यामुळे ROS (रिॲक्टिव्ह ऑक्सिजन स्पीशीज) नष्ट करण्यास सक्षम नैसर्गिक अँटिऑक्सिडंट्स ओळखण्याचे महत्त्व अधोरेखित होते [16].

विशेषतः, ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह स्ट्रेस हा लिपिड जमा होण्यास प्रोत्साहन देऊन आणि लिपिड होमियोस्टॅसिस बिघडवून, यकृतातील फॅटी लिव्हर (हेपॅटिक स्टीटोसिस) यासह लिपिड चयापचय विकारांच्या विकासात महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका बजावतो [17]. ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह स्ट्रेस-संबंधित लिपिड चयापचयाचा अभ्यास करण्यासाठी, यकृताच्या पेशींमध्ये (हेपॅटोसाइट्स), जसे की HepG2 पेशींमध्ये, FFA-प्रेरित लिपिड जमा होण्याचा वापर मोठ्या प्रमाणावर इन विट्रो मॉडेल म्हणून केला जातो [18,19].

या संदर्भात, अँटिऑक्सिडंट संयुगे ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह स्ट्रेस कमी करून लिपिड जमा होण्याचे प्रमाण कमी करण्यास हातभार लावू शकतात.

जैवतंत्रज्ञानाच्या दृष्टिकोनातून, वनस्पती कॅलस कल्चर हे संपूर्ण-वनस्पती प्रणालींपेक्षा अनेक फायदे देतात,

ज्यात पर्यावरणीय आणि हंगामी बदलांपासून स्वतंत्र, नियंत्रित परिस्थितीत सतत उत्पादन, आणि एलिसिटर उपचार व बायोरिॲक्टर-आधारित स्केल-अप यांसारख्या वृद्धी धोरणांसाठी अनुकूलता यांचा समावेश आहे.  या संभाव्यतेच्या असूनही, आय. बाल्सामिनाच्या बियांपासून मिळवलेल्या कॅलसचे अँटिऑक्सिडेंट गुणधर्म आणि त्याचा संबंधित बियांच्या अर्काच्या फायटोकेमिकल रचनेशी असलेला संबंध मोठ्या प्रमाणावर अज्ञात आहे, ज्यामुळे प्रस्तुत अभ्यासाला अतिरिक्त प्रेरणा मिळाली आहे. प्रस्तुत अभ्यासात, आम्ही ऊतींवर अवलंबून असलेले फरक तपासण्यासाठी आय. बाल्सामिनाच्या बियांपासून (IB) आणि बियांपासून मिळवलेल्या कॅलसपासून (IBC) काढलेल्या ७०% इथेनॉल अर्कांच्या अँटिऑक्सिडेंट क्रियांचे तुलनात्मक मूल्यांकन केले. रॅडिकल स्कॅव्हेंजिंग क्रिया, ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह डीएनए नुकसानापासून संरक्षण आणि लिपिड ऑक्सिडेशनचे प्रतिबंध यांचे मूल्यांकन करण्यासाठी अनेक इन विट्रो चाचण्या वापरण्यात आल्या. याव्यतिरिक्त, अँटिऑक्सिडेंट क्रिया आणि लिपिड नियमन यांच्यातील संभाव्य संबंध शोधण्यासाठी FFA-उपचारित HepG2 पेशींमध्ये लिपिड संचयनावर IB आणि IBC च्या परिणामांचे परीक्षण करण्यात आले. पुढे, या जैविक परिणामांमागील प्रमुख लक्ष्ये आणि संबंधित मार्ग शोधण्यासाठी बायोइन्फॉर्मेटिक्स-आधारित नेटवर्क विश्लेषणाचा वापर करण्यात आला.

Impatiens balsamina (Terada) Introduction

Ref

Plants (Basel). 2026 Jun 1;15(11):1716. doi: 10.3390/plants15111716

Antioxidant Activities and Lipid Accumulation-Inhibitory 

Effects of Seed and Callus Extracts of Impatiens balsamina L.

Ye-Eun Ha 1,†, Ga-Ram Yu 2,†, Hyuck Kim 3, Dong-Woo Lim 2,*, Jai-Eun Kim 4,*

Editors: Kalina Danova, Laura Pistelli, Ilaria Marchioniterada

INTRODUCTION 

Impatiens balsamina L. is an annual herb belonging to the family Balsaminaceae [1]

. Although it is native to South Asia, it is widely 

cultivated as an ornamental and medicinal plant across Asia and has been introduced to other regions. Ethnopharmacological studies have reported its traditional use in the treatment of rheumatism, pain, bruising, and nail inflammation, while the seeds have also been used to alleviate puerperal pain [2,3].

Phytochemical studies have shown that I. balsamina contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and naphthoquinones [4].

 Extracts from the aerial parts, particularly stems and leaves, have demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, which is largely attributed to these phenolic and flavonoid constituents [5,6]. 

However, despite these findings, studies specifically addressing the antioxidant potential of the seeds remain limited, and information regarding seed-derived callus is scarce.

Seeds function as storage organs that accumulate specialized metabolites involved in protection during dormancy and germination, thereby contributing to cellular redox balance. In particular, phenolics and flavonoids are recognized as major non-enzymatic antioxidants that protect biomolecules from oxidative damage [7,8,9].

In contrast, callus tissues consist of dedifferentiated and unorganized cells generated under in vitro lmculture conditions and often exhibit reduced accumulation of secondary metabolites due to the incomplete

 development of tissue-specific biosynthetic pathways [10,11]. Therefore, comparative analysis of seeds and seed-derived callus provides a useful model for examining tissue-dependent differences in phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity [12].

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, and hydrogen peroxide, are continuously generated during normal metabolism. Although ROS play essential roles in cellular signaling, their excessive accumulation disrupts redox homeostasis and induces oxidative stress, leading to damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids [13,14,15].

 Oxidative stress is closely associated with the development and progression of various metabolic and degenerative diseases, highlighting the importance of identifying natural antioxidants capable of scavenging ROS [16].

In particular, oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of lipid metabolic disorders, including hepatic steatosis, by promoting lipid accumulation and impairing lipid homeostasis [17]. FFA-induced lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, such as HepG2 cells, is widely used as an in vitro model to investigate oxidative stress-related lipid metabolism [18,19]. 

In this context, antioxidant compounds may contribute to the reduction in lipid accumulation by mitigating oxidative stress.

From a biotechnological perspective, plant callus cultures offer several advantages over whole-plant systems, 

including continuous production under controlled 

conditions independent of environmental and seasonal variations, and amenability to enhancement strategies such as elicitor treatment and bioreactor-based scale-up. Despite this potential, the antioxidant properties of seed-derived callus of I. balsamina and its relationship to the phytochemical composition of the corresponding seed extract remain largely unexplored, providing an additional motivation for the present study. In the present study, we comparatively evaluated the antioxidant activities of 70% ethanol extracts from the seeds (IB) and seed-derived callus (IBC) of I. balsamina to investigate tissue-dependent differences. Multiple in vitro assays were employed to assess radical scavenging activity, protection against oxidative DNA damage, and inhibition of lipid oxidation. In addition, the effects of IB and IBC on lipid accumulation were examined in FFA-treated HepG2 cells to explore the potential relationship between antioxidant activity and lipid regulation. Furthermore, a bioinformatics-based network analysis was employed to explore the key targets and associated pathways underlying these biological effects.

तेरडा (इम्पॅटियन्स बाल्सामिना)

संदर्भ

प्लांट्स (बेसेल)

 २०२६ जून १; १५(११):१७१६. doi: १०.३३९०/plants१५१११७१६

इम्पॅटियन्स बाल्सामिना एल. च्या बिया आणि कॅलस अर्कांचे अँटिऑक्सिडंट गुणधर्म आणि लिपिड संचय-प्रतिबंधक परिणाम.

ये-यून हा १,†, गा-राम यू २,†, ह्युक किम ३, डोंग-वू लिम २,*, जाई-यून किम ४,*

संपादक: कलिना डानोवा, लॉरा पिस्टेली, इलारिया मार्चिओनिटेराडा

सारांश

इम्पॅटियन्स बाल्सामिना एल. च्या बियांचा पूर्व आशियाई औषधोपचार पद्धतीत पारंपरिकरित्या वापर केला जातो आणि त्यामध्ये अँटिऑक्सिडंट गुणधर्म असलेले जैव-सक्रिय संयुगे असल्याचे ज्ञात आहे.

 तथापि, बियांपासून मिळवलेल्या कॅलसवर लक्ष केंद्रित करणारे अभ्यास मर्यादित आहेत. या अभ्यासाचा उद्देश आय. बाल्सामिना (I. balsamina) च्या बियांपासून (IB) आणि बियांपासून मिळवलेल्या कॅलसपासून (IBC) काढलेल्या ७०% इथेनॉल अर्कांच्या अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्रिया आणि लिपिड संचय-प्रतिबंधक परिणामांचे तुलनात्मक मूल्यांकन करणे हा होता. २,४-डायक्लोरोफेनॉक्सीएसेटिक ऍसिड (२,४-डी) पूरक असलेल्या मुराशीगे आणि स्कूग (MS) माध्यमावर कॅलस प्रेरित करण्यात आला. अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्रियांचे मूल्यांकन डीपीपीएच रॅडिकल स्कॅव्हेंजिंग, सुपरऑक्साइड ॲनायन स्कॅव्हेंजिंग, डीऑक्सीरिबोज-आधारित हायड्रॉक्सिल रॅडिकल स्कॅव्हेंजिंग, डीएनए निकिंग, लिपिड पेरॉक्सिडेशन आणि रिलेटिव्ह इलेक्ट्रोफोरेटिक मोबिलिटी (REM) चाचण्या वापरून, तसेच एकूण फिनोलिक, फ्लेव्होनॉइड आणि टॅनिन घटकांचे निर्धारण करून करण्यात आले. एफएफए-उपचारित हेपजी२ (HepG2) पेशींमध्ये पेशींची व्यवहार्यता आणि लिपिड संचय यांचे मूल्यांकन करण्यात आले. अंतर्निहित यंत्रणा शोधण्यासाठी इन सिलिको नेटवर्क आणि ट्रान्सक्रिप्शन फॅक्टर (TF) एनरिचमेंट विश्लेषणे करण्यात आली. १ मिग्रॅ/लि २,४-डी या सांद्रतेवर कॅलस प्रेरण सर्वात प्रभावी ठरले. सर्व चाचण्यांमध्ये IB आणि IBC या दोन्हींनी अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्रिया दर्शवल्या, ज्यात IBC च्या तुलनेत IB ने अधिक क्रियाशीलता आणि जास्त फायटोकेमिकल सामग्री दाखवली. दोन्ही अर्कांनी नॉन-सायटोटॉक्सिक (पेशींसाठी विषारी नसलेल्या) सांद्रतेवर FFA-उपचारित HepG2 पेशींमधील लिपिड संचय कमी केला. नेटवर्क विश्लेषणाने ऑक्सिडेटिव्ह ताण, दाह आणि लिपिड चयापचय यांच्याशी संबंधित मार्गांमध्ये समृद्धी ओळखली, आणि TF समृद्धी विश्लेषणाने NFKB1 आणि ATF3 यांना प्रमुख अपस्ट्रीम नियामक म्हणून ओळखले. अनेक इन विट्रो चाचण्यांमध्ये IB आणि IBC या दोन्हींनी अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्रिया दर्शवल्या, ज्यात IB ने त्याच्या अधिक जटिल फायटोकेमिकल सामग्रीमुळे जास्त क्रियाशीलता दर्शवली. FFA-उपचारित HepG2 पेशींमध्ये दिसून आलेले लिपिड संचय-प्रतिबंधक परिणाम अँटिऑक्सिडंट क्षमता आणि लिपिड नियमन यांच्यातील संभाव्य संबंध सूचित करतात, जरी त्यामागील यंत्रणा प्रायोगिकरित्या प्रमाणित करणे बाकी आहे. पुढील ऑप्टिमायझेशनच्या प्रतीक्षेत, बियांपासून मिळवलेला कॅलस वनस्पतींपासून मिळणाऱ्या बायोॲक्टिव्ह संयुगांच्या अभ्यासासाठी एक उपयुक्त इन विट्रो मॉडेल म्हणून काम करू शकतो.

Ref 

Plants (Basel). 2026 Jun 1;15(11):1716. doi: 10.3390/plants15111716

Antioxidant Activities and Lipid Accumulation-Inhibitory Effects of Seed and Callus Extracts of Impatiens balsamina L.

Ye-Eun Ha 1,†, Ga-Ram Yu 2,†, Hyuck Kim 3, Dong-Woo Lim 2,*, Jai-Eun Kim 4,*

Editors: Kalina Danova, Laura Pistelli, Ilaria Marchioniterada

Impatiens balsamina (तेरडा )

 Impatiens balsamina (तेरडा )

Ref

. 2026 Jun 1;15(11):1716. doi: 10.3390/plants15111716

Antioxidant Activities and Lipid Accumulation-Inhibitory Effects of Seed and Callus Extracts of Impatiens balsamina L.

Ye-Eun Ha 1,†, Ga-Ram Yu 2,†, Hyuck Kim 3, Dong-Woo Lim 2,*, Jai-Eun Kim 4,*

Editors: Kalina Danova, Laura Pistelli, Ilaria Marchioniterada

Abstract

The seeds of Impatiens balsamina L. have been traditionally 

used in East Asian medicine and are known to contain bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties.

 However, studies focusing on seed-derived callus remain limited. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant activities and lipid accumulation-inhibitory effects of 70% ethanol extracts from seeds (IB) and seed-derived callus (IBC) of I. balsamina. Callus was induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide anion scavenging, deoxyribose-based hydroxyl radical scavenging, DNA nicking, lipid peroxidation, and relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) assays, along with the determination of total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents. Cell viability and lipid accumulation were assessed in FFA-treated HepG2 cells. In silico network and transcription factor (TF) enrichment analyses were performed to explore underlying mechanisms. Callus induction was most effective at 1 mg/L 2,4-D. Both IB and IBC exhibited antioxidant activities across all assays, with IB showing higher activity and greater phytochemical content than IBC. Both extracts reduced lipid accumulation in FFA-treated HepG2 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Network analysis identified enrichment in pathways related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid metabolism, and TF enrichment analysis identified NFKB1 and ATF3 as major upstream regulators. Both IB and IBC exhibited antioxidant activities across multiple in vitro assays, with IB showing higher activity attributable to its more complex phytochemical content. The lipid accumulation-inhibitory effects observed in FFA-treated HepG2 cells suggest a potential association between antioxidant capacity and lipid regulation, although the underlying mechanisms remain to be experimentally validated. Seed-derived callus may serve as a useful in vitro model for studying plant-derived bioactive compounds, pending further optimization.

Pomegranate and Cardiovascular Dseases

 Ref

Adv Biomed Res. 2014 Mar 25;3:100. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.129371

Potent health effects of pomegranate

Aida Zarfeshany 1, Sedigheh Asgary 1,✉, Shaghayegh Haghjoo Javanmar

Cardiovascular diseases

Pomegranate juice is an affluent source of polyphenols with high antioxidative potential. Moreover, its antiatherogenic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects have been shown in limited studies in human and murine models.[15]Hypertension is the most common disease in primary care of patients. It is found in comorbidity with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and the majority of patients do not tend to be medicated. Pomegranate juice prevents the activity of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and reduces systolic blood pressure.[16] Angiotensin II acute subcutaneous administration causes increased blood pressure in diabetic Wistar rats. It has been shown that pomegranate juice administration (100 mg/kg) for 4 weeks could reduce the mean arterial blood pressure.[17] Pomegranate juice consumption resulted in 30% decrease in carotid intima-media thickness after 1 year. The patient's serum paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) activity showed 83% increase, whereas both serum low dwnsity lipoprotein (LDL) basal oxidative state and LDL susceptibility to copper ion significantly decreased by 90% and 95%, respectively.[18]

In cultured human endothelial cells and hypercholesterolemic mice, both pomegranate juice and fruit extract reduced the activation of ELK-1 and p-CREB (oxidation-sensitive responsive genes) and elevated the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. It is suggested that polyphenolic antioxidant compounds in pomegranate juice are responsible for the reduction of oxidative stress and atherogenesis.[22

Punicic acid, which is the main constituent of pomegranate seed oil, has antiatherogenic effects. In a study on 51 hyperlipidemic patients, pomegranate seed oil was administered twice a day (800 mg/day) for 4 weeks. There was a significant decrease in triglycerides (TG) and TG: High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio by 2.75 mmol/L and 5.7 mmol/L, respectively, whereas serum cholesterol, LDL-C, and glucose concentration remained unchanged.[19]

High plasma LDL concentration is the major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Therefore, LDL modifications, including oxidation, retention, and aggregation, play a key role in atherosclerosis as well. Studies have shown that consuming pomegranate juice for 2 weeks resulted in declined retention and aggregation of LDL susceptibility and increased activity of serum paraoxonase (a protective lipid peroxidation esterase related to HDL) by 20% in humans. Pomegranate juice administration in mice for 14 weeks showed reduced LDL oxidation by peritoneal macrophages by more than 90%, which was because of reduced cellular lipid peroxidation and superoxide release. The uptake of oxidized LDL showed 20% reduction in mice. The size of atherosclerotic lesions reduced by 44% after pomegranate juice supplementation.[20] Moreover, pomegranate juice administration to apolipoprotein E-deficient mice with advanced atherosclerosis for 2 months reduced oxidized LDL (31%) and increased macrophage cholesterol efflux (39%).[21]

In cultured human endothelial cells and hypercholesterolemic mice, both pomegranate juice and fruit extract reduced the activation of ELK-1 and p-CREB (oxidation-sensitive responsive genes) and elevated the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. It is suggested that polyphenolic antioxidant compounds in pomegranate juice are responsible for the reduction of oxidative stress and atherogenesis.[22

 another study,[23] concentrated pomegranate juice was shown to reduce heart disease risk factors. Administration of concentrated pomegranate juice to 22 diabetic type 2 patients with hyperlipidemia could significantly reduce TC, LDL-C, LDL-C: HDL-C ratio, and TC: HDL-C ratio. However, it was unable to decrease serum TG and HDL-C concentrations.

Oral administration of pomegranate flower aqueous extract in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced albino Wistar rats in both 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg doses for 21 days could significantly reduce fibrinogen (FBG), TC, TG, LDL-C, and tissue lipid peroxidation level and increased the level of HDL-C and glutathione content.[24]

Heart fibrosis increases among diabetics, which results in impairing cardiac function. Endothelin (ET)-1 and NFκB are interactive fibroblast growth regulators. It is suggested that pomegranate flower extract (500 mg/kg/day) in Zucker diabetic fatty rats could reduce the ratios of van Gieson-stained interstitial collagen deposit area to a total left ventricular area and perivascular collagen deposit areas to coronary artery media area in the heart and diminishes cardiac fibrosis in these rats. In addition, overexpressed cardiac fibronectin and collagen I and II messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were inhibited. It also decreased the upregulated cardiac mRNA expression of ET-1, ETA, inhibitor-κBβ, and c-jun. Pomegranate flower extract is a dual activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and γ and improves hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and fatty heart in diabetic fatty Zucker rats.[25,26]

Punicic acid caused a dose-dependent increase in PPAR alpha and gamma reporter activity in 3T3-L1 cells. Dietary punicic acid reduced plasma glucose, suppressed NFκB activation and unregulated TNF-α expression and PPAR-α/γ responsive genes in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.[27]

Pomegranate leaf extract was administered (400 and 800 mg/kg/day) to high-fat-diet-induced obese and hyperlipidemic mouse models for 5 weeks. The results indicated significant reduction in body weight, energy intake (based on food intake), serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, FBG, and TC/HDL-C ratio. Intestinal fat absorption was inhibited as well.[28]

The high fat diet (HFD) with 1% pomegranate seed oil (rich source of punicic acid) was administered for 12 weeks to induce obesity and insulin resistance in mice. The pomegranate seed oil-fed group exhibited lower body weight (4%) and body fat mass (3.1%) compared with only HFD-fed mice. A clear improvement was observed in peripheral insulin sensitivity (70%) in pomegranate seed oil-administered rats.[29]

Fatty liver is the most common abnormal liver function among diabetics. Pomegranate flower was examined for its antidiabetic effects on diabetic type II and obese Zucker rats. Rats fed with 500 mg/kg/day of pomegranate flower extract for 6 weeks showed decreased ratio of liver weight to tibia length, lipid droplets, and hepatic TG contents. In addition, it increased PPRA-α and Acyl-COA oxidase mRNA levels in HepG2 cells.[30]

In a study by de Nigris et al.,[31] they compared the influence of pomegranate fruit extract with pomegranate juice on nitric oxide and arterial function in obese Zucker rats. They have demonstrated that both pomegranate fruit extract and juice significantly reduced the vascular inflammatory markers expression, thrombospondin, and cytokine TGFP 1. Increased plasma nitrite and nitrate were observed with administration of either pomegranate fruit or juice.

Many studies have reported the anti-inflammatory potential of pomegranate extract. In a study on 30 Sprague-Dawley rats with acute inflammation due to myringotomy, it was observed that 100 μl/day of pomegranate extract could significantly reduce reactive-oxygen species (ROS) levels. The extract was administered 1 day before and 2 days after surgery. Reduced thickness of lamina propria and vessel density was reported as well.[32] Both ellagitannins and ellagic acid are the main components of pomegranate extract, which have anti-inflammatory properties. They are metabolized by gut microbiota to yield urolithins. It is suggested that urolithins are the main components responsible for the anti-inflammation properties of pomegranate. It is suggested that NFκB activation, MAPK downregulation of COX-2, and mPGES-1 expression were inhibited through a decrease in PGE2 production.[33] Neutrophils play key roles in inflammatory processes by releasing great amounts of ROS generated by NADPH-oxidase and myeloperoxidase. It is indicated that punicic acid exhibited a potent anti-inflammatory effect via prevention of TNF-α-induced priming of NADPH oxidase by targeting the p38MAPKinase/Ser 345-p 47 phox-axis and releasing MPO.[34] Hyperglycemia results in oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus, which is a major factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Results suggested that pomegranate extract, owing to its polyphenol-rich antioxidants (oleanolic, ursolic, and gallic acids), could prevent cardiovascular complications through decrease in LDL, increase in HDL, serum paraoxonase 1 stability and activity, and nitric oxide production.[35,36,37]

Pomegranate Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Ref

Adv Biomed Res. 2014 Mar 25;3:100. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.129371

Potent health effects of pomegranate

Aida Zarfeshany 1, Sedigheh Asgary 1,✉, Shaghayegh Haghjoo Javanmard 1

Osteoarthritis

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and its major progressive degenerative joint disease,

 which could affect joint functions and quality of life in patients. It is mediated by proinflammatory 

cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-α. MAPKs are important due to their inflammatory and cartilage damage regulation.[38] P38-MAPKs are responsible for regulating cytokine production, neutrophils activation, apoptosis, and nitric oxide synthesis. The MAPK family phosphorylates a number of transcription factors such as runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX-2).[39,40,41]

Pomegranate extract, with its rich source of polyphenols, can inhibit IL-1 β-induced activation of MKK3, DNA-binding activity of RUNX-2 transcription factor, and p38 α-MAPK isoform.[38]

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects 0.5-1% of people worldwide. Women are afflicted more than men. This inflammatory disease is characterized by inflammation and bone erosion.[38,39] Critical mediators in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis are TNF-α, IL-1 β, MCP1, Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and COX-2-agents, which are stimulated by p38-MAPK and NFκB activation.[42,43]

It is shown that pomegranate extract could reduce the onset and incidence of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Severity of arthritis, joint inflammation, and IL-6 level were significantly reduced in pomegranate extract-fed mice.[44]