An aqueous pomegranate peel extract (Punica granatum) protect against Elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema in Sprague Dawley rats model

We investigated the effect of Punica granatum peel aqueous extract (PGE), on pulmonary inflammation and alveolar degradation induced by intratracheal administration of Elastase in Sprague Dawley rats. Lung inflammation was induced in rats by intratracheal instillation of Elastase. On day 1 and 2, animals received an intraperitoneal injection of PGE (200 mg/mL), three hours later, they were intratracheally instilled with 25U/kg pancreatic porcine Elastase. Animals were sacrificed 7 days later. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected and cellularity, histology and mRNA expression of Monocyte chemotactic protein 1(MCP-1), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were studied. In addition, activity of TNF- α, IL-6 and MCP-1 on BAL were also analyzed by ELISA Kit. Elastase administration increased: BAL cellularity, neutrophils recruitment and BAL MCP1, IL-6 expressions. It also increased lung TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-2 expressions, platelets recruitment, histological parameters at 7th day of elastase treatment. Intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg of PGE reduced, significantly, BAL cellularity, and neutrophils recruitment. However, in animal treated with PGE, MCP-1, MMP-2 and IL-6 on day 7, were similar to the Sham group. Treatment with PGE (200 mg/ kg) also significantly reduced lung TNF-α, and MCP-1 expression. This study reveals that PGE Punica granatum protects against elastase lung inflammation and alveolar degradation induced in rats

Pomegranate juice to reduce fecal calprotectin levels in inflammatory bowel disease patients with a high risk of clinical relapse: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent episodes of intestinal inflammation and is thought to be related to an autoimmune reaction to genetic and environmental factors. Although evidence indicates that a polyphenolic-rich diet plays an important role in modulating aspects of chronic inflammation, few studies have focused on the effect of ellagitannin (ET)-rich food consumption on long-term remission maintenance in IBD patients with a high risk of clinical relapse. Therefore, we hypothesize that supplementation with a pomegranate juice, a naturally rich source of ETs, could significantly modulate the markers of mucosal and systemic inflammation relative to a control group receiving a placebo. METHODS/DESIGN: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial includes patients with IBD involving the colorectum who have been in stable therapy for at least the three previous months and have a high risk of clinical relapse. Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups: active supplementation (125 mL of cv. Wonderful pomegranate juice) or placebo (125 mL) taken twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is changes in the fecal neutrophil-derived protein calprotectin, a surrogate marker of mucosal improvement, between the two groups from baseline to 12 weeks later. The secondary outcomes include transcriptomic changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and intestinal biopsies and changes in circulating inflammatory markers and trimethylamine-N-oxide levels. Pomegranate ET-derived metabolites are identified and quantified in plasma and urine samples. DISCUSSION: The results will provide information on the possible reduction of fecal calprotectin levels following the consumption of pomegranate juice. The findings will also show the in vivo metabolism of pomegranate ETs. Finally, the effect of 12-week pomegranate juice consumption on local and systemic inflammatory markers will be elucidated, which will likely provide additional insights into the maintenance of remission in IBD patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03000101 . Registered on 21 December 2016.