Effect of Punica granatum (pomegranate) juice extract on healthy liver and hepatotoxicity induced by diethylnitrosamine and phenobarbital in male rats.

The effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) on hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation (DNAF), and caspase-3 activity in rats both treated and not treated with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and phenobarbital (PB) was studied. Administration of rats with DEN and PB caused an elevation in the levels of malondialde-hyde (MDA), DNAF, and activities of glutathione reductase (GSR) and caspase-3, while the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, total glutathione peroxidase (t-GPx), and glutathione (GSH) level were decreased in hepatocytes compared to the control. Treatment of rats with PJ pre, during, and post DEN and PB administration improved liver function and decreased the levels of MDA, DNAF, t-GPx, GSR, and caspase-3 activities, but the GSH level did not change compared to the D-P group. This indicates that PJ reduced the oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by DEN and PB. Administration of healthy rats with PJ only for a long period induced oxidative stress and apoptosis for hepatocytes.