Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2010 Apr;53(4):354-359. 10.5468/kjog.2010.53.4.354.

The effect of pomegranate on postmenopausal syndrome in ovariectomized rats

• Ahn KH
• Yi KW
• Park HT
• Shin JH
• Hur JY
• Kim YT
• Kim SH
• Lee KW
• Bae CS
• Kim T

• KMID: 2273863
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.4.354

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether or not pomegranate extract can affect postmenopausal syndrome in ovariectomized rats.
METHODS
Seventy-nine female Sprague-Dawley rats were used: A, no intervention; B, sham operation and distilled water; C, ovariectomy and distilled water; D, ovariectomy and 10% dilute pomegranate; E, ovariectomy and 20% pomegranate; and F, ovariectomy and 40% pomegranate. The study samples were obtained 4 weeks later. The following parameters were investigated for analyses: the thickness of urogenital epithelium, tail skin temperature, serum levels of sex hormones, lipid profile, homocysteine, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances.
RESULTS
20% pomegranate had a transient thickening effect of bladder epithelial layer. There was an intermittent lowering effect of tail skin temperature of pomegranate extract, however, it was not consistent. There were lowering effect in serum homocysteine and elevating effect in serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Pomegranate did not reverse post-ovariectomy reduced sex hormone levels.
CONCLUSION
Pomegranate extract showed a tendency to reverse ovariectomy-related urothelial changes. Also pomegranate had a serum homocysteine-lowering effect.

Keyword

Pomegranate; Postmenopausal syndrome

MeSH Terms

Animals
Epithelium
Female
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Homocysteine
Humans
Ovariectomy
Punicaceae
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Salicylamides
Skin Temperature
Tail
Thiobarbiturates
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Urinary Bladder
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Homocysteine
Salicylamides
Thiobarbiturates
Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The change of tail skin temperature. Analysis of variance (ANOVA). A: intact, B: sham operation, C: ovariectomy, D: ovariectomy plus 10% pomegranate, E: ovariectomy plus 20% pomegranate, F: ovariectomy plus 40% pomegranate. *Statistically significant.

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