APOPTOTIC EFFECTS OF PUNICALAGIN ON PARTIALLY HEPATECTOMIZED RAT LIVER

The antioxidant potential of pomegranate is attributed to its polyphenols, including punicalagin. In this study, we searched the effects of punicalagin on 70% partially hepatectomized rats. Animals were subjected to partial hepatectomy (PH), immediately after receiving 15 mg/kg punicalagin. They were dissected at different time points (3 h, 6 h) following surgery. NF-kappaB (NF kappa B), caspase-3 gene expression results were evaluated by RT-PCR and protein expression fold changes were evaluated according to the qPCR method. Apoptotic index results were compared between groups. Gene expression levels of experimental groups necessarily correlate with protein expression levels. Results of RT-PCR (p < 0.05), qPCR (p < 0.05) and apoptotic index (p < 0.05) which belong to Caspase-3 gene region, have shown that 15 mg/kg of punicalagin induced apoptosis in a time-dependent manner despite the partial hepatectomy (group V-VI). Six hours after PH in group VI, apoptosis reached highest level with the injection of punicalagin. Activation of NF kappa B, at the end of the 6th hour in group IV, has demonstrated a significant increase compared to the other groups. After PH, 15 mg/kg of punicalagin has time-dependently suppressed regeneration and induced apoptosis. The results of the study showed that apoptosis induction could be associated with the caspase-3 increased activation. The liver, apoptotic index values triggered in group VI at the end of the 6th hour after PH. According to the results, 15 mg/kg intraperitoneally (IP) punicalagin application induced liver apoptosis despite the induction of liver regeneration (by partial hepatectomy).