Abstract:
Background: Athletes use anabolic androgenic steroids in excess of normal therapeutic levels to improve their stamina and
performance, and this apparently describes the increase in their toxic side effects. Objective: To determine the ameliorative
effects of Pomegranate Juice and Pomegranate Peel Extract on steroid induced inflammation in mice kidneys. Methodology:
Study Design: Laboratory based Randomized control study. Duration and Place of Study: Department of Anatomy, Army Medical
College, Rawalpindi, in cooperation with National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, from 1st May to 30th June 2015. Forty
healthy male and female BALB/c mice with average weight of 25-30 gms were randomly distributed into four groups, each group
with five male and five female mice. Group A worked as a control group and groups B, C and D worked as experimental groups.
Mice in experimental groups B,C and D were given a single injection of (Nandrolone decanoate) ND intramuscularly, at the dose
of 1 mg/100 gm body weight, in the hind limb once weekly for 8 weeks. Mice in experimental group C was also given
pomegranate juice (PJ) at the dosage of 3ml/kg body weight via oral gavage tube daily for 8 weeks and mice in experimental group
D was given pomegranate peel extract (PPE) at the dosage of 200mg/kg body weight via oral gavage tube daily for 8 weeks. The
animals were sacrificed after the experimental period was over and kidney tissues were processed for sectioning and staining. The
results of all the groups were compiled and compared by using SPSS 21. Comparison of qualitative variables between the groups
was done by applying Chi square test. Results: Inflammatory infiltrate were significantly higher in steroid administered
experimental group B and statistical improvement was seen when comparison of experimental group B was done with PJ and PPE
administered experimental groups C and D, respectively (p=0.001and 0.000). Comparison of experimental groups C and D
showed no statistical significance (p=1.0). Conclusion: It was concluded that both forms of Pomegranate has ameliorative effects
on steroid induced inflammatory changes in mice kidneys.
