The protective effect of pomegranate, punica granatum, on murine malaria. | Pakistan Journal of Zoology 2014

Author(s)

Murad A. Mubaraki Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed A. Dkhil Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University Egypt, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University,Saudi Arabia

Esam M. Al-Shaebi Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University,Saudi Arabia

Mahmoud Y. Lubbad Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University,Saudi Arabia

Khalid E. Ibrahim Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University,Saudi Arabia

Saleh Al-Quraishy Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University,Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Malaria is still one of the most devastating infectious diseases in the tropics. The present study aims to investigate the protective role of pomegranate peel extract against Plasmodium chabaudi-induced spleen tissue damage in mice. Animals were divided into three groups. Group I served as a vehicle control. Group II and group III were infected with 106 P. chabaudi-infected erythrocytes. Group III was gavaged with 100 µl of 300 mg/kg pomegranate peel extract for 6 days. All mice were sacrificed at day 6 post-infection. Treated mice with pomegranate significantly showed approximately 50% reduction in parasitemia compared to untreated control. Infection also induced a weight loss. Histochemical studies revealed that infection caused a decrease in both carbohydrates and protein contents in the spleen. Pomegranate could improve these altered changes. Based on these results, it is concluded that pomegranate peel could offer protection against splenic tissue damage.

Publication Details

Page(s) 1345-1350

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Pakistan Journal of Zoology, Volume: 46, Issue: 5, Year: 2014

Keywords

Malaria pomegranate peel Spleen

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