Protective Effect of the Ethanol Extract of Pomegranate Mesocarp on Isolated Rat Heart Following Ischemia and Reperfusion

Ischemic heart disease is the main cause of mortality worldwide.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intragastric administration of pomegranate fleshy mesocarp (membrane) extract on isolated rat heart following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Wistar rat’s hearts were removed under deep anesthesia and were studied using Langendorff’s apparatus. During the first stage of the study, isolated hearts in groups of 3 received different concentrations (0.5-0.00001%) of the extract dissolved in Krebs solution. The control group received pure Krebs solution. During the second stage of the study, the control and the test rats, in groups of 10, received distilled water or the ethanol extract of pomegranate juice (200 mg/kg), respectively, daily for 3 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the hearts of the animals were studied. After 30 min stabilization, all hearts experienced 30 min global ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion.

Supplementation of pomegranate membrane extract to perfusion solution of isolated hearts suppressed cardiac mechanical activity and increased coronary perfusion pressure. Intragastric administration of the extract caused a significant increase in heart rate and ventricular contractile force. In addition, coronary perfusion pressure increased, and the infarct size significantly decreased compared to the control group.

Direct administration of the extract to isolated hearts results in cardiac depression. However, intragastric administration of the extract causes strong cardioprotective effects against ischemia and reperfusion induced injury in isolated rat hearts.