Toxicological Evaluation of Pomegranate Fruit Extract in Male and Female Rats

POmegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit is often consumed as fresh fruit and juice. Its varied medicinal benefits in traditional medicine. The current study aimed to assess the acute and subacute toxicity profiles of pomegranate extract in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. In acute toxicity investigation, rats of both sexes were administered 1g/kg body weight of extract intraperitoneally. In the subacute toxicity trial, that was administered the extract (1g/kg body weight) intraperitoneally every 24 hours for 15 days, whereas the control group received distilled water. Daily food consumption and drink intake and rats' body weight changes were carefully recorded and documented for two weeks. Hematological measures of complete blood count (CBC), serum biochemical parameters of liver, heart, and kidney function, and lipid profile were evaluated to identify the principal harmful effects on tissues. There were no behavioral changes or mortality recorded in the treated groups. The LD50 value was greater than 1g/Kg body weight. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight gain, food, and water intake in groups. The hematological and biochemical parameters and the organ weights showed no significant alterations (p<0.05) between the treatment and control groups. Group 1, which received doses of 1 g/kg body weight of extract 2, exhibited superior outcomes in most of the parameters under investigation. This included improvements in behavior, food and water intake, average body weight, relative organ weights, and serum biochemical markers. The overall finding of this study reveals that pomegranate extract is safe up to 1g/Kg body weight intraperitoneal administration in male and female Sprague Dawley rats, and we conclude from prior results that pomegranate extract is safe.