Punica granatum L. mesocarp suppresses advanced glycation end products (AGEs)- and H2O2-induced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory biomarkers

The protective potential of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) mesocarp extract (PME) on a cell model mimicking diabetes-like oxidative stress exposed to advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was investigated. The polyphenolic antioxidant rich PME afforded protection to erythrocytes from AAPH radical-induced lysis and significantly reduced (P < 0.001) ROS production in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes by preventing AGEs-modulated decrease in intrinsic antioxidant enzymatic activities and by reducing NOX1 expression. PME significantly inhibited protein carbonyl and AOPP levels following their increase in the presence of AGEs and H2O2 (P < 0.05). It exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on preadipocytes by suppressing IL-6 secretion. PME down-regulated the over-expression of pro-inflammatory mediators NFκB, iNOS and IL-6 post-AGEs treatment and concomitantly down-regulated the expression of AGEs receptor CD36 in the presence of AGEs. PME decreases oxidative stress and inflammation at adipose tissue level with the propensity to mitigate obesity-related disorders such as insulin resistance and type II diabetes.