Chronic hyperhomocysteinemicin rats pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) flower plasma and brain tissues oxidant system and the effects of oxidative damage

Hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy) is an important risk factor in brain damage circumstances such as free radical production and reactive gliosis. Punica granatum L. (PGL) is known as a powerful antioxidant substance. It is aimed to investigate the effect of homocystein on oxidant-antioxidant systems and reactive gliosis in rat with hHcy in the present study. Additionally, it is determined the possible protective effect of PGL against the hHcy induced oxidative stress.Totally 21 adult Wistar rats were used in this study. Animals in control group (n=7) were only fed with standard food for six weeks. hHcy was constituted in second group (n=7) by applying L-methionine (1.5 g/kg/day) in drinking water in addition to standard feed for six week. The rats in third group were received PGL (500mg/kg/day) in standard rat feed in addition to L-methionine for six week (n=7). All rats were decapitated and blood and brain tissue samples were collected after six weekly experimental period.Some parameters revealing lipid peroxidation increased in hHcy group whereas PGL treatment significantly decreased these parameters. Additionally, hHcy caused augmentation on glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 protein levels and neuron specific enolase activity. PGL treatment prevented these augmentations.In summary, it is revealed that PGL diminished hHcy induced lipid peroxidation, increased antioxidant activity and decreased reactive gliosis in rat brain tissues. Based on these results, we could express that PGL has neuroprotective effect in rat brain.Key words: Hyperhomocysteinemia, Punica granatum L., oxidant-antioxidant systems, reactive gliosis, rat.