Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of the juice and water seed extracts of two pomegranate species in high-cholesterol diet fed rats

This study investigated the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of the juice and water seed extracts of two pomegranate species from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and compared them with each other as well as with ellagic acid (EA) in high-cholesterol diet (HCD) fed rats. Compared with the case in rats fed HCD alone, EA and juice or water seed extracts of both pomegranate types significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, and GSH, increased the level of HDL-c, increased the activity of SOD and CAT, and decreased the level of MDA in the serum of HCD-fed rats. There were more profound effects of the juice or water seed extract of both the Saudi and Egyptian pomegranates on serum HDL-c and GSH levels and the activities of SOD and CAT than those of EA. In conclusion, this study showed that water seed extracts or juice of both types of pomegranate ameliorated HCD-induced hyperlipidemia, lipid peroxidation, and changes of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the serum of HCD-fed rats.