The Role of Pomegranate Peel Extract in Improving Hepatotoxicity, and hMSH2 Expression in CCI₄ -Treated Rats

Recently, pomegranate fruit and its leaves have found wide usage as a natural treatment for several ailments. In this study, we investigated the restorative potentials of pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract against hepatic damage brought on by calcium tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats and its effects on the human mutS homolog 2 (hMSH2) gene expression. Four groups of twenty male Wistar rats (n =5) were created at random. Group I was the untreated control group. Group II was given a dose of 0.4 ml CCl₄ intraperitoneally (IP) for two consecutive days/week for 3 weeks. Group III was given a daily dose (500 mg/ kg b.w) of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) for 3 weeks. Group IV received an IP of CCl₄ for two consecutive days/week for 3weeks followed by a daily oral dose of (500 mg/ kg b.w) of PPE for 3 weeks. Bodyweight, relative liver weight, serum AST, ALT, bilirubin, tissue GSH, and MDA, the expression of the hMSH2 gene, liver histology, and immunohistochemistry were assessed. Our results showed that the administration of CCl₄ to rats did not affect their body weight and relative liver weight. However, CCl₄ administration resulted in a decrease in tissue GSH, an increase in serum AST, ALT, bilirubin, lipid peroxidation, modification of liver histology, and immunohistochemistry, and the downregulation of the expression of the hMSH2 gene. Intriguingly, PPE treatment following CCl₄ administration to rats attenuated these changes. Taken together, our study reveals the potential of PPE for its use in the treatment of liver damage.