ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the preventive effects of Punica granatum [pomegranate] juice and extract on weight and volume of steroid induced mice kidneys. Study Design: Lab based randomized control trial. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical College [AMC] Rawalpindi, in cooperation with National Institute of Health [NIH] Islamabad, from Apr to May 2015
Material and Methods: Forty male and female healthy [BALB/c strain] mice with average weight of 25-30gms were divided into four groups, having ten animals each. Group A was a control group and groups B, C and D were experimental groups. Mice in experimental groups were injected Nandrolone decanoate [ND] at the dosage of 1 mg/100 gm of body weight, intramuscularly [I/M] in the hind limb once a week for 8 weeks. Mice in experimental group C were also given pomegranate juice [PJ] at the dosage of 3ml/kg of body weight through oral gavage tube for 8 weeks daily and mice in experimental group D were given pomegranate peel extract [PPE] at the dosage of 200mg/kg of body weight by oral gavage tube for 8 weeks daily. Intergroup comparison of results of experimental groups B, C and D with each other and with control group A was done
Results: The weight and volume of kidneys were significantly different in ND treated experimental group B and difference in both these parameters was seen in pomegranate administered experimental groups C and D
Conclusion: Pomegranate in both forms, as pomegranate juice and peels extract, equally prevent the weight and volume of steroid induced kidneys