The Effect Of Punicic Acid On Oxidative Stress In Diabetic Rats

Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of punicis acid on oxidative stress in STZ induced diabetic rats.Methods:There were 60 male SD rats, 8 rats were fed with normal diet(normal control group), and the rest rats were fed with high-fat diet. After 8 weeks of feeding, the normal control group were injected with PH=4.2 sodium citrate – citric acid buffer, the remaining rats were abdominal injected 2% of STZ solution, modeling success rate of diabetes was 70%. Diabetic rats were randomised divided into three groups(n=15), they were administrated olive oil(0.3mL/d), punicis acid(0.12 mL of pomegranate seed oil + 0.18 mL of olive oil) and conjugated linoleic acid(0.12 mL of conjugated linoleic acid + 0.18 mL of olive oil), and normal control group rats were given 0.3 mL of olive oil per day for 8 weeks, respectively. The superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in the serum and liver of rats were measured by colorimetry. RT-PCR and Western blot determined the relative expression of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT), glutathione peroxidase(GPX) and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), and Nrf2, Keap1 and NQO1.Results:Punicic acid can significantly reduce lipid peroxidation end product MDA in diabetic rats, and increase the antioxidant enzymes SOD, GSH-Px and CAT(P<0.05). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that pomegranate acid can significantly increase the relative mRNA expression of SOD, CAT, GPX, HO-1 and NQO1, and can further increase levels of Nrf2 gene and protein, as well as down-regulating Keap1 gene and protein(P < 0.05).Conclusion:Punicic acid can reduce oxidative stress in diabetic rats through activation of Nrf2 downstream genes. The present study provide a new theoretical basis for the further research and application of punicic acid.