Pomegranate seed oil and bitter melon extract supplemented in diet influence the lipid profile and intensity of peroxidation in livers of SPRD rats exposed to a chemical carcinogen.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of PSO and bitter melon extract on liver lipid metabolism, oxidative status, and their potential role in cancer-related processes.
Results Summary
PSO supplementation altered liver lipid profiles, increasing cholesterol and reducing certain oxysterols while elevating malondialdehyde in cancer-affected animals. Its oxidative impact varied based on carcinogen exposure and disease state.
Population
Rats (animal model)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diet supplementation with PSO and BM | increase | cholesterol | rat livers | - | significantly increased | #1 |
diet supplementation with PSO and BM | decrease | selected oxysterols levels | rat livers | - | reduced | #2 |
diet supplementation with PSO and BM | increase | malondialdehyde content | animals suffering from cancer | - | increasing | #3 |
exposition to carcinogen | increase | cholesterol | rat livers | - | significantly increased | #4 |
exposition to carcinogen | decrease | selected oxysterols levels | rat livers | - | reduced | #5 |
exposition to carcinogen | increase | malondialdehyde content | animals suffering from cancer | - | increasing | #6 |
Despite promising health effects of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and bitter melon extract (BM) used for centuries as food and traditional medicine, neither mechanism of action nor safety has been fully recognized. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of diet supplementation with PSO and BM on fatty acid, conjugated fatty acid and cholesterol content in rat' livers, since liver is crucial for lipid metabolism. Oxidation indicators (malondialdehyde, oxysterols and tocopherols) were also determined. Lipid profiles did not reveal the presence of punicic acid, while other conjugated dienes and trienes, including rumenic acid, were determined. Both supplementation and exposition to carcinogen significantly increased cholesterol and reduced selected oxysterols levels, simultaneously increasing malondialdehyde content in animals suffering from cancer. Impact of PSO and BM on oxidative status varied depending on carcinogen exposure and coexisting neoplastic process, which is important, due to the growing interest in their use in prevention and therapy of various diseases, including cancer.