The Potential Protective Effects of Pomegranate Juice Against (S)-(-)-1-Methyl-2-(3-Pyridyl) Pyrrolidine(+)-Bitartrate Salt Induced Serum Biochemical Changes in Rabbits

Nicotine [ (S) - (-) -1-methyl-2- (3-pyridyl) pyrrolidine (+) -bitartrate salt] can cause an increase in oxidative stress, serum cardiac enzymes activities, serum concentrations of total cholesterol triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and lower levels of the cardioprotective high-density lipoprotein and disturbance in serum electrolytes and minerals. Pomegranate juice possess a marked antioxidant capacity with a high content in tannins, phenols and flavonoids. Flavanoids of pomegranate possess antiatherogenic, cardioprotective, and hypolipidemic activities. The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pomegranate juice as a natural source of antioxidants to minimize the harmful effects of nicotine induced cardiactoxicity, dyslipidemia, atherogenic and disturbance in serum electrolytes and minerals in New Zealand rabbits. In this study, twenty four male New Zealand rabbits were used for this study and divided into four groups. The first group was control group, the 2nd group was administered the pomegranate juice orally, the 3rd was the experimental and received intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (6 mg/kg body weight /day), the 4th one co-administered intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (6 mg/kg body weight /day) and pomegranate juice orally for 6 weeks. Blood samples were obtained for assessment of serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, serum concentrations of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium and phosphorus, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol parameters and estimation of non HDLc, LDLc, VLDLc, cardiac risk ratio (Castellis risk index I), Castellis risk index II, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma parameters. In nicotine treated animals, the serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, serum concentrations of potassium ions, calcium and phosphorus, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, non HDLc, LDLc, VLDLc, Castellis risk index I, Castellis risk index II, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma parameters were significantly (pless than0.05), increased as compared to the control group. On the other hand, serum HDLc and sodium ions were decreased as compared to the control group. Co-administration of pomegranate juice significantly improved of serum lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities, electrolytes and minerals, glucose, lipids profile parameters and the ratios based on lipids profile parameters. It is recommended that the heavy smokers should be advised to take pomegranate juice as a rich source of antioxidant to prevent cardiactoxicity, dyslipidemia, atherogenic effects and serum electrolytes and minerals disturbance induced by nicotine. Further studies are necessary to elucidate exact mechanism of the cardioprotective, antidyslipidemic, antiatherogenic, and regulates serum electrolytes and minerals of pomegranate juice and potential usefulness of pomegranate juice as a protective agent against nicotine induced cardiactoxicity, atherogenic, dyslipidemia, serum electrolytes and minerals disturbance in clinical trials.