Pomegranate Juice Supplemented with Inulin Modulates Gut Microbiota and Promotes the Production of Microbiota-Associated Metabolites in Overweight/Obese Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Pomegranate juice (PJ) and inulin have been reported to ameliorate diet-induced metabolic disorders by regulating gut microbiota dysbiosis. However, there was a lack of clinical evidence for the combined effects of PJ and inulin on regulating gut microbiota in individuals with metabolic disorders. A double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, and 68 overweight/obese individuals (25 ≤ BMI ≤ 35 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive 200 mL/d PJ, PJ supplemented with inulin, or placebo for 3 weeks. Our results showed that PJ and PJ+inulin did not significantly alter the levels of anthropometric and blood biochemical indicators after 3 weeks of treatment. However, there was an increasingly significant impact from placebo to PJ to PJ+inulin on the composition of gut microbiota. Detailed bacterial abundance analysis further showed that PJ+inulin treatment more profoundly resulted in significant changes in the abundance of gut microbiota at each taxonomic level than PJ. Moreover, PJ+inulin treatment also promoted the production of microbiota-associated short-chain fatty acids and pomegranate polyphenol metabolites, which correlated with the abundance of the bacterial genus. Our results suggested that PJ supplemented with inulin modulates gut microbiota composition and thus promotes the production of microbiota-associated metabolites that exert potential beneficial effects in overweight/obese subjects.

Effects of storage and processing on the residual distribution and behavior of five preservatives and their metabolites in pomegranate.

Pomegranate are often treated with preservatives during storage. This study investigated the effects of storage and food processing on the residual behavior of the five commonly used preservatives (prochloraz, thiophanate-methyl, pyrimethanil, imazalil, and difenoconazole) and their metabolites in pomegranate and its products. The LOQs for all target compounds were 0.001 mg kg-1. The residue levels of five preservatives in the calyx was highest, followed by the peel, stalk, septum, umbilicus, and seed. For the migration ability, the five preservatives from pomegranate peel to seed was negatively correlated with their octanol/water partition coefficients. The processing factors of each procedures of juice, wine, vinegar, and pectin processing were <1. Nevertheless, the PF values in drying peel during the overall process ranged from 1.26 to 4.09. Hence, it is worth noting that consumption of pomegranate essential oil and drying peel may pose a potential risk to the health of consumers.

Integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic, and functional analyses unravel the mechanism of bagging delaying fruit cracking of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

The economic impact of fruit cracking in pomegranate products is substantial. In this study, we present the inaugural comprehensive analysis of transcriptome and metabolome in the outermost pericarp of pomegranate fruit in bagging conditions. Our investigation revealed a notable upregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the calcium signaling pathway (76.92%) and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) genes (87.50%) in the fruit peel of non-cracking fruit under bagging. Metabolomic analysis revealed that multiple phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were identified in pomegranate. Among these, calmodulin-like 23 (PgCML23) exhibited a significant correlation with triterpenoids and demonstrated a marked upregulation under bagging treatment. The transgenic tomatoes overexpressing PgCML23 exhibited significantly higher cellulose content and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (XET) enzyme activity in the pericarp at the red ripening stage compared to the wild type. Conversely, water-soluble pectin content, polygalacturonase (PG), and ß-galactosidase (ß-GAL) enzyme activities were significantly lower in the transgenic tomatoes. Importantly, the heterologous expression of PgCML23 led to a substantial reduction in the fruit cracking rate in tomatoes. Our findings highlight the reduction of fruit cracking in bagging conditions through the manipulation of PgCML23 expression.

Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles reveal fruit peel color variation in two red pomegranate cultivars.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) which belongs to family Lythraceae, is one of the most important fruit crops of many tropical and subtropical regions. A high variability in fruit color is observed among different pomegranate accessions, which arises from the qualitative and quantitative differences in anthocyanins. However, the mechanism of fruit color variation is still not fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the red color mutation between a red-skinned pomegranate 'Hongbaoshi' and a purple-red-skinned cultivar 'Moshiliu', by using transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. A total of 51 anthocyanins were identified from fruit peels, among which 3-glucoside and 3,5-diglucoside of cyanidin (Cy), delphinidin (Dp), and pelargonidin (Pg) were dominant. High proportion of Pg in early stages of 'Hongbaoshi' but high Dp in late stages of 'Moshiliu' were characterized. The unique high levels of Cy and Dp anthocyanins accumulating from early developmental stages accounted for the purple-red phenotype of 'Moshiliu'. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an early down-regulated and late up-regulated of anthocyanin-related structure genes in 'Moshiliu' compared with 'Hongbaoshi'. Alao, ANR was specially expressed in 'Hongbaoshi', with extremely low expression levels in 'Moshiliu'. For transcription factors R2R3-MYB, the profiles demonstrated a much higher transcription levels of three subgroup (SG) 5 MYBs and a sharp decrease in expression of SG6 MYB LOC116202527 in high-anthocyanin 'Moshiliu'. SG4 MYBs exhibited two entirely different patterns, LOC116203744 and LOC116212505 were down-regulated whereas LOC116205515 and LOC116212778 were up-regulated in 'Moshiliu' pomegranate. The results indicate that specific SG members of the MYB family might promote the peel coloration in different manners and play important roles in color mutation in pomegranate.

Punicalagin from pomegranate ameliorates TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced inflammatory responses in HaCaT cells via regulation of SIRT1/STAT3 axis and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Punicalagin (PUN) was isolated from the peel of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), is a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities. However, it remains unclear whether PUN alleviates the inflammation and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in pro-inflammatory cytokines-induced human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Here, we investigated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) mixture-stimulated HaCaT cells were treated with various concentrations of PUN, followed by analyzed the expression of inflammation-related mediators and evaluate anti-inflammatory-related pathways. Our results demonstrated that PUN ≤ 100 µM did not reduce HaCaT cell viability, and PUN ≥ 3 µM was sufficient to decrease interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), CCL17 and CCL20 concentrations. We found that PUN ≥ 10 µM and ≥ 3 µM significantly increased sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression and inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation, respectively. PUN downregulated inflammation-related proteins cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), enhanced nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Moreover, PUN decreased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and inhibited monocyte adhesion to inflamed HaCaT cells. PUN also suppressed inflammatory-related pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in TNF-α/IFN-γ- stimulated HaCat cells. Collectively, there is significant evidence that PUN has effective protective defenses against TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced skin inflammation by enhancing SIRT1 to mediate STAT3 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Hepatoprotective effect of methanol fruit extract of Punica granatum L in highly active antiretroviral therapy-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.

Prolonged use of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has been linked to toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity. There are few effective drugs for HAART patients that promote hepatic cell regeneration and prevent liver injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the hepato-protective activity of Methanol fruit extract of Punica granatum (MFEPG) in HAART-administered rats. Thirty rats weighing between 150-200 g were randomly divided into six groups and each group comprised of five rats. Distilled water was given to the rats in group one. Only HAART was given to the rats in group two. MFEPG at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg was given to the rats in groups three and four. MFEPG dosages of 100 and 400 mg/kg along with HAART were given to the rats in groups five and six, respectively. All treatments were via oral gavage daily for 40 days. Under halothane anesthesia, all rats were sacrificed on day 41. Liver tissues were utilized for lipid peroxidation marker; Malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzymes; Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) and histological evaluation, while blood samples were examined for biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, Total cholesterol, Total protein, and Albumin). The HAART-treated group exhibited a significantly higher amount of the lipid peroxidation end product; MDA, and significantly lower levels of antioxidant enzymes; SOD, and CAT. Liver enzymes and total cholesterol were significantly increased with a significant reduction in Total protein and Albumin levels in the HAART-treated group. Conversely, the liver function biomarkers were returned to normal levels in the HAART and MFEPG-treated groups. Histopathological studies revealed that when HAART-exposed rats were treated with MFEPG, both the biochemical and histological results significantly improved. Thus, the antioxidant activity of MFEPG provides protection against HAART-induced liver oxidative damage. More research is needed to determine the safety of using MFEPG in humans.

Prevention of aflatoxin B1 toxicity by pomegranate peel extract and its effects on growth, blood biochemical changes, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations.

Contamination of animal feeds with mycotoxins is one of the most serious issues in the world of animal nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) versus oxytetracycline (OXY) in reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in rabbits fed contaminated diets. This experiment was done on 48 weaned NZW, four groups (n = 12). The first (AF) served as the control group feed on an infected diet by AFB1 between 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg BW; second (AF + OXY) received an infected diet by AFB1 and was treated with OXY 200 mg/kg BW/day; third (AF + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with PPE 130 mg/kg BW/day; fourth (AF + OXY + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with a daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg BW/day of OXY + PPE (65 mg/kg BW/day), the experiment lasted for 8 weeks experiment. The treated group with PPE and its combination with OXY concurrent with AF showed amelioration markedly for liver and kidney function. To summarise, adding PPE and combining it with OXY at a half dose to an AFB1-contaminated diet can help minimise the harmful effects of AFB1 on rabbit performance.

Anti-inflammatory effect of a pomegranate extract on LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells.

Pomegranate is an important source of bioactive molecules with proven beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of a pomegranate extract (PE), obtained from the whole fruit and previously characterized by Reversed Phase-Ultra High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (RP-UHPLC-HRMS), on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells challenged with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In LPS-treated cells (1 µg/ml, 24h), the PE treatment (administered at the non-cytotoxic dose of 1 µg/ml, 24h) induced a significant reduction of three key pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), at both gene expression (as assayed by real-time PCR) and secretion levels (by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, ELISA). Although further in vivo studies are needed to prove its efficacy, this preliminary in vitro study suggests that the PE might be useful for ameliorating liver inflammation.

Pomegranate peel, chokeberry leaves and Ironwort extract as novel natural inhibitors of amylin aggregation and cellular toxicity in pancreatic ß cells.

Impeding or reducing human amylin aggregation and/or its toxicity can be key to preventing pancreatic islet amyloidosis and ß-cell loss in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Here, Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel, Sideritis raeseri (ironwort) and Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) leaf extracts, were tested for their novel anti-aggregative and antitoxic properties in human amylin (hIAPP) treated rat pancreatic insulinoma (INS) cells. The protein aggregation (Th-T) assay revealed an inhibitory trend of all three plant extracts against amylin aggregates. In agreement with this finding, pomegranate peel and ironwort extracts effectively prevented the transition of hIAPP from disordered, random coil structures into aggregation prone ß-sheet enriched molecular assemblies, revealed by CD spectroscopy. Consistent with their anti-aggregative action, all three extracts prevented, to various degrees, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial stress, and, ultimately, apoptosis of INS cells. Collectively, the results from this study demonstrate effectiveness of natural products to halt hIAPP aggregation, redox stress, and toxicity, which could be exploited as novel therapeutics against amylin-derived islet amyloidosis and ß-cell stress in T2DM.

Possible role of pomegranate fruit in reversing renal damage in rats exposed to Phenylhydrazine.

Background: Pomegranate granatum (molasses and peels) and its constituents showed protective effects against natural toxins such as phenylhydrazine (PHZ) as well as chemical toxicants such as arsenic, diazinon, and carbon tetrachloride. Aim: The current study aimed to assess the effect of pomegranate molasses (PM), white peel extract, and red peel extract on nephrotoxicity induced by PHZ. Methods: 80 male rats were divided into eight equal groups; a control group, PM pure group, white peel pomegranate pure group, red peel pomegranate pure group, PHZ group, PM + PHZ group, white peel pomegranate + PHZ group and red peel pomegranate + PHZ group. Kidney function, inflammation markers, antioxidant activities, and renal tissue histopathology were investigated. Results: The results revealed that PHZ group showed a significant increase in lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), creatinine, uric acid, BUNBUN, C - reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with a significant decrease of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as compared with a control group. Other pomegranate-treated and PHZ co-treated groups with pomegranate showed a significant decrease of LDH, MDA, creatinine, uric acid, BUN, tumor necrosis factor, TBARSs, and TAC with a significant increase of CAT, GPx, and SOD as compared with PHZ group. Conclusion: Collectively, our data suggest that red, white peels, and molasses have anti-toxic and anti-inflammatory effects on renal function and tissues.

Effects of wheat bran replacement with pomegranate seed pulp on rumen fermentation, gas production, methanogen and protozoa populations of camel and goat rumen using competitive PCR technique: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Microbial populations in the rumen play an essential role in the degradation of Cellulosic dietary components and in providing nutrients to the host animal. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to detect the effect of pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) on rumen fermentation, digestibility and methanogens and the protozoa population (by competitive polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) of the camel and goat rumen fluid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PSP was added to the experimental treatments and replaced by wheat bran (0%, 5% and 10%). Rumen fluid was collected from three goats and two camels according to the similarity of sex, breed, origin and time and used for three gas production studies. DNA extraction was performed by the RBB + c method, the ImageJ programme calculated band intensities (target and competing DNA), and line gradients were plotted based on the number of copies and intensity. RESULTS: Our result showed that diets did not significantly affect the methanogen and protozoa population. Animal species affected microbial populations so that both populations in camels were less than goats. The production of gas and volatile fatty acids was not affected by diets. These two parameters and NH3 concentration and methane production in goats were higher than in camel. The pH of digested dry matter and microbial protein in camels was higher than in goats. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the competitive PCR technique is an effective method for enumerating rumen microbiota. This supplementation can be considered a strategy to achieve performance and environmental benefits.

The effects of pomegranate consumption on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown the effects of pomegranate on oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers, while some studies showed no effects of pomegranate on these biomarkers. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of pomegranate consumption on C-reactive protein (CRP), interlukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in adults. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, up to May 2023 to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Heterogeneity tests of the included trials were performed using the I2 statistic. Random effects models were assessed based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as the weighted mean difference with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Of 3811 records, 33 eligible RCTs were included in the current study. Our meta-analysis of the pooled findings showed that pomegranate consumption significantly reduced CRP (WMD: -0.50 mg/l; 95% CI -0.79 to -0.20; p = 0.001), IL-6 (WMD: -1.24 ng/L 95% CI -1.95 to -0.54; p = 0.001), TNF-α (WMD: -1.96 pg/ml 95%CI -2.75 to -1.18; p < 0.001), and MDA (WMD: -0.34 nmol/ml 95%CI -0.42 to -0.25; p < 0.001). Pooled analysis of 13 trials revealed that pomegranate consumption led to a significant increase in TAC (WMD: 0.26 mmol/L 95%CI 0.03 to 0.49; p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Overall, the results demonstrated that pomegranate consumption has beneficial effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in adults. Therefore, pomegranate can be consumed as an effective dietary approach to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with cardiovascular diseases. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CODE: CRD42023406684.

Pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) inhibits planktonic growth and disrupts biofilm formed by Cryptococcus neoformans.

AIMS: We investigated the putative fungistatic and fungicidal activities of pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) against Cryptococcus neoformans B3501 (serotype D), specifically the ability of PgTeL to inhibit yeast capsule and biofilm formation in this strain. METHODS AND RESULTS: PgTeL showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 172.0 µg ml-1, at which it did not exhibit a fungicidal effect. PgTeL concentrations of 4.0-256.0 µg ml-1 reduced biofilm biomass by 31.0%-64.0%. Furthermore, 32.0-256.0 µg ml-1 PgTeL decreased the metabolic activity of the biofilm by 32.0%-93.0%. Scanning electron microscopy images clearly revealed disruption of the biofilm matrix. Moreover, PgTeL disrupted preformed biofilms. At concentrations of 8.0-256.0 µg ml-1, PgTeL reduced metabolic activity in C. neoformans by 36.0%-92.0%. However, PgTeL did not inhibit the ability of B3501 cells to form capsules under stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: PgTeL inhibited biofilm formation and disrupted preformed biofilms, demonstrating its potential for use as an anticryptococcal agent.

Convenient green synthesis of Cu/Fe nanoparticles using pomegranate peel extracts and their performance for tetrabromobisphenol A removal.

In this work, pomegranate peel extracts were used as the green reducing agent to synthesize Cu/Fe nanoparticles (P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles) and removed tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in aqueous solution. P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles were amorphous and irregularly spherical. The surfaces of nanoparticles contained Fe0, Fe3+ oxides (hydroxides), and Cu0. The bioactive molecules from pomegranate peel were extremely important for the synthesis of nanoparticles. P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles had excellent removal performance for TBBPA, and 98.6% of TBBPA (5 mg L-1) was removed within 60 min. The removal reaction of TBBPA by P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles was well-fitted with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The Cu loading was critical for TBBPA removal with an optimum value of 1.0 wt%. A weakly acidic condition (pH 5) was more favorable for the removal of TBBPA. The removal efficiency of TBBPA increased with the rise of temperature and decreased with increasing initial TBBPA concentration. The activation energy (Ea) was 54.09 kJ mol-1, indicating that the removal of TBBPA by P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles was mainly surface-controlled. Reductive degradation was the main mechanism of TBBPA removal by P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles. In conclusion, green synthesized P-Cu/Fe nanoparticles using pomegranate peel waste show great potential for the remediation of TBBPA in aqueous solution.

Catechin, epicatechin, curcumin, garlic, pomegranate peel and neem extracts of Indian origin showed enhanced anti-inflammatory potential in human primary acute and chronic wound derived fibroblasts by decreasing TGF-ß and TNF-α expression.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic wounds are devastating and can cause burden at multiple levels, chronic wound research is still far behind. Chronic wound treatment is often less efficient due to delay in diagnosis and treatment, non-specific treatment mainly due to lack of knowledge of wound healing or healing resistance genes. It's known that chronic wounds do not progress towards healing, because it gets stalled in inflammatory phase of wound healing. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to use phytoextracts possessing excellent anti-inflammatory properties to regulate the unbalanced levels of cytokines responsible for increased inflammation. METHODS: Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of selected phytoextracts namely, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Acacia catechu (L.f) Willd., Curcuma longa (L.), Allium sativum (L.), Punica granatum (L.) and Azadirachta indica A. hereafter, called as catechin, epicatechin, curcumin, garlic, pomegranate and neem extracts, respectively in Acute wound fibroblasts (AWFs) and Chronic wound fibroblasts (CWFs) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The phytoextracts exhibited no cytotoxicity below 100 µg/ml on normal Human Dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), while garlic extract showed highest cell viability followed by catechin, epicatechin, curcumin, pomegranate peel and neem based on IC50 value. Garlic, catechin and epicatechin extracts showed highest anti-inflammatory activities for both TGF-ß and TNF-α in both AWFs and CWFs treated cells. After treatment of AWFs with catechin, epicatechin and garlic extracts, TGF-ß and TNF-α expression was significantly reduced compared to untreated AWFs and reached to almost normal HDFs level. Also, after treatment of CWFs with catechin, epicatechin and garlic extracts, TGF-ß and TNF-α expression was significantly reduced compared to untreated CWFs and was lesser than untreated AWFs. CONCLUSION: The present findings reveal the potential of catechin, epicatechin and garlic extracts for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds with excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

Adjuvant pomegranate juice intake improves the inflammatory status of hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A randomized and placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice intake on the inflammatory status and complete blood count in hospitalized Covid-19 patients. METHODS: This randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial included 48 patients with two parallel arms. In addition to the standard care provided at the hospital, the patients consumed 500 mL of whole pomegranate juice (PJ) daily or a placebo for 14 days. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)) and complete blood count were determined at baseline and after the 14 days of intervention. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, a significant decreased was observed in primary outcomes [mean difference (95 %CI)] including IL-6 [5.24(0.87-9.61)], CRP [23.19(11.93-34.44)] and ESR [10.52(1.54-19.50)] in the PJ group vs. before the intervention. In addition, significant changes were also observed in the some of the secondary outcomes, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, platelets-to-lymphocyte(PLR) and neutrophils-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratios (p < 0.05) in the PJ group compared to before the intervention. At the end of the intervention period, the mean change of IL-6 [- 7.09(-12.21 to - 1.96)], white blood cells [- 3.09(- 6.14 to - 0.05)], neutrophils [- 9.12(-18.08 to -0.15)], lymphocyte [7.05(0.17-13.92)], platelets [- 94.54(- 139.33 to - 49.75)], PLR [- 15.99(- 29.31 to - 2.67)], blood oxygen saturation [1.75(0.13-3.37)] and MCV [0.31(- 0.25 to 0.88)] levels were significantly different between groups while no difference was observed between the two groups in other blood indices. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that pomegranate juice intake might slightly improve the inflammatory status and CBC outcomes of COVID-19 patients and it may be beneficial.

Anti-Cholera toxin activity of selected polyphenols from Careya arborea, Punica granatum, and Psidium guajava.

Introduction: Careya arborea, Punica granatum, and Psidium guajava are traditionally used to treat diarrheal diseases in India and were reported to show anti-Cholera toxin activity from our earlier studies. As polyphenols are reported to neutralize Cholera toxin (CT), the present study investigated the inhibitory activity of selected polyphenols from these plants against CTB binding to GM1 receptor using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. Methods: Molecular modelling approach was used to investigate the intermolecular interactions of selected 20 polyphenolic compounds from three plants with CT using DOCK6. Based on intermolecular interactions, two phenolic acids, Ellagic acid (EA) and Chlorogenic acid (CHL); two flavonoids, Rutin (RTN) and Phloridzin (PHD) were selected along with their respective standards, Gallic acid (GA) and Quercetrin (QRTN). The stability of docked complexes was corroborated using molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, in vitro inhibitory activity of six compounds against CT was assessed using GM1 ELISA and cAMP assay. EA and CHL that showed prominent activity against CT in in vitro assays were investigated for their neutralizing activity against CT-induced fluid accumulation and histopathological changes in adult mouse. Results and discussion: The molecular modelling study revealed significant structural stability of the CT-EA, CT-CHL, and CT-PHD complexes compared to their respective controls. All the selected six compounds significantly reduced CT-induced cAMP levels, whereas EA, CHL, and PHD exhibited > 50% binding inhibition of CT to GM1. The EA and CHL that showed prominent neutralization activity against CT from in vitro studies, also significantly decreased CT-induced fluid accumulation and histopathological changes in adult mouse. Our study identified bioactive compounds from these three plants against CT-induced diarrhea.

PgMYB1 Positively Regulates Anthocyanin Accumulation by Activating PgGSTF6 in Pomegranate.

The peel color of pomegranates is an important exterior quality that determines market value. Anthocyanins are biosynthesized in the cytosol and then transported to the vacuole for storage. However, the molecular mechanism that determines the color variation between red and white pomegranates remains unclear. In this study, we identified an R2R3-MYB protein (PgMYB1) that interacts with the PgGSTF6 promoter and regulates its transcriptional expression, thus promoting the accumulation of anthocyanins in pomegranate. The expression of PgMYB1 and PgGSTF6 was positively correlated with the anthocyanin content in red and white pomegranates. Further investigation showed that the knockdown of PgMYB1 in red pomegranate 'Taishanhong' (TSH), by the virus-induced gene-silencing system, inhibited anthocyanin accumulation. Together, our results indicate that PgMYB1 controls the transport of anthocyanin via PgGSTF6 and thus promotes anthocyanin accumulation in red pomegranates. Our results have a certain reference value for further clarifying the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis and transport in pomegranate fruits.

Identification of thrombin inhibiting antithrombin-III like protein from Punica granatum using in silico approach and in vitro validation of thrombin inhibition activity in crude protein.

Thrombosis is characterized by the formation of clots in the blood vessels. Antithrombin-III deficiency in the blood causes thrombus formation. Supplementing antithrombin-III may serve as anticoagulant therapy. In the present studies, an antithrombin like Protein from Punica granatum has been identified and characterized using in silico approach. Based on sequence homology, an ALPP was selected depending upon its highest binding affinity of -41.28 kcal/mol with thrombin. Thrombin structure complexed with ALPP was docked with TAME using AutoDock Vina. No binding was observed for TAME at Ser195 of thrombin. MD simulation (50 ns) was performed to evaluate the flexibility and stability of docked complexes. In vitro assays with crude protein showed 78% thrombin inhibition at 5 µg and calculated IC50 value was 0.188 µg. The presence of thrombin inhibitors in crude protein was also confirmed by reverse zymography. Thus, it is very likely that the protein identified from P. granatum may act as thrombin inhibitor.

Pomegranate Seed Oil as a Source of Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA) Has No Effect on Atherosclerosis Development but Improves Lipid Profile and Affects the Expression of Lipid Metabolism Genes in apoE/LDLR-/- Mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) (cis-9,trans-11,cis-13; punicic acid) compared to linolenic acid (LnA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (cis-9,trans-11) in apoE/LDLR-/- mice. In the LONG experiment, 10-week old mice were fed for the 18 weeks. In the SHORT experiment, 18-week old mice were fed for the 10 weeks. Diets were supplied with seed oils equivalent to an amount of 0.5% of studied fatty acids. In the SHORT experiment, plasma TCh and LDL+VLDL cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in animals fed CLnA and CLA compared to the Control. The expression of PPARα in liver was four-fold increased in CLnA group in the SHORT experiment, and as a consequence the expression of its target gene ACO was three-fold increased, whereas the liver's expression of SREBP-1 and FAS were decreased in CLnA mice only in the LONG experiment. Punicic acid and CLA isomers were determined in the adipose tissue and liver in animals receiving pomegranate seed oil. In both experiments, there were no effects on the area of atherosclerotic plaque in aortic roots. However, in the SHORT experiment, the area of atherosclerosis in the entire aorta in the CLA group compared to CLnA and LnA was significantly decreased. In conclusion, CLnA improved the lipid profile and affected the lipid metabolism gene expression, but did not have the impact on the development of atherosclerotic plaque in apoE/LDLR-/- mice.