Le grenadier tunisien (Punica granatum) stimule le transport de glucose dans les cellules musculaires C2C12 via la voie insulino-dépendante de l’Akt et la voie insulino-indépendante de l’AMPK

Le diabète est reconnu comme un problème majeur de santé publique causant des conséquences humaines et économiques redoutables. La phytothérapie s’offre comme une nouvelle avenue thérapeutique pour le contrôle de la glycémie. Le grenadier, Punica granatum, a servi de remède contre le diabète dans le système Unani de la médecine pratiquée en Inde et au Moyen Orient. Des études ont démontré un effet hypoglycémiant des extraits de grenadier via divers mécanismes notamment par une amélioration de la sensibilité à l’insuline et la régénération des cellules béta-pancréatiques. Cependant, aucune étude n’a démontré à ce jour, l’effet de grenadier sur le transport de glucose dans le muscle, étape cruciale dans la régulation de l’homéostasie glucidique postprandiale. De plus, l’effet de la maturation sur le potentiel antidiabétique du fruit de grenadier n’a pas été étudié. Ainsi, le but de ce projet est d’évaluer l’effet antidiabétique des extraits de grenadier sur le transport de glucose dans les cellules musculaires C2C12 en fonction de la variété et du stade de maturation du fruit et d’élucider les mécanismes d’action. Le choix des variétés du grenadier tunisien (Espagnoule [EP] et Gabsi [GB]) a été orienté pour leur pouvoir antioxydant et leur consommation locale. Deux parties de la plante ont été utilisées, les fleurs et les fruits à 3 stades de maturation soit 2, 4 et 6 mois. Les résultats ont montré que seule la variété du grenadier Gabsi stimule significativement le transport de glucose par rapport au contrôle (DMSO), et ceci sans être toxique. Cet effet est plus prononcé au stade de fruit mûr (à 6 mois) que celui de la fleur. De plus, l’extrait de fleurs stimule la voie insulino-indépendante de l’AMPK et augmente le niveau d’expression des transporteurs spécifiques de glucose (GLUT-4). Par contre, l’extrait de fruits mûrs, en plus de ces deux mécanismes, active fortement aussi la voie insulino-dépendante de l’AKT. En conclusion, cette étude présente un nouveau mécanisme d’action antidiabétique de grenadier (plus particulièrement du fruit mûr) qui est dépendant de la variété.

Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extrato de Punica granatum L. sobre staphylococcus aureus isolado em leite bovino

Bovine mastitis is considered important disease causing major economic losses in dairy herds. Antimicrobial drug can promote resistance, chemical residues in food and environmental contamination. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity in vitro of pomegranate extract on Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine milk, evaluate its antioxidant activity, and quantify levels of total phenols and fravonoides of the different extracts used. Aqueous extracts were used in nature and dry, from the peel of the fruit (EAC) and leaves (EAF). Additionally, it was evaluated the antioxidant activity (AA%), total phenols and flavonoids. Milk samples were inoculated, incubated, and the colonies were characterized as Staphylococcus aureus were adjusted to 1.0x106 UFC/mL in the 6 standard of the MacFarland scale. The sensitivity of the microbial isolates were determined in quintuplicate, in disk diffusion test. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by visible inhibition zone greater than 15mm. The results were evaluated by ANOVA, Tukey 5%, using the program SISVAR 5.3 - DEX/UFLA. Results implied that the aqueous extract from the bark of dried fruit was capable of inhibiting bacterial growth at concentrations of 3%. The other treatments only showed this activity, from the concentrations of 15%, 20% and 30% for dry EAF, in nature EAC and in nature EAF, respectively. Regarding the action antioxidant of dry EAC, was not correlated with total phenols and flavonoids. Probably other alkaloids substances present in the extract studied, may have been responsible for this activity. It is concluded that extracts of Punica granatum L., especially those obtained by the shell of the fruit, showed inhibitory activity against S. aureus, indicating your use potential for the control of bovine mastitis.

Avaliação da ação curativa e preventiva de Punica granatum em lesões gástricas induzidas por etanol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Citotoxicidade da Punica granatum L. (romã) sobre cultura de fibroblastos e de células de linhagem cancerígena

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Germinação de sementes de romäzeiras (Punica granatum L.) de acordo com a concentração de giberelina

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Extrato hidroalcoólico de Punica granatum Linn. sobre Staphylococcus spp. isolado de leite bovino

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Increased Antioxidant Content in Juice Enriched with Dried Extract of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peel

Antioxidants are compounds responsible for free radical scavenging in the body. They protect the organism from oxidative modification of cells and tissues. These modifications have been associated with degenerative diseases, atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis. Punica granatum displays high antioxidant potential due to the presence of phenolic compounds, which are capable of disease prevention. The present study showed the highest antioxidant activity in pomegranate peel than in seeds and pulp. Based on these results, pomegranate peel was used to produce dried extract that was added to commercial tomato juice and orange juice with strawberries. Analysis to determine the content of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity was performed on pomegranate pulp, seeds and peel and in juices enriched with dried extract of pomegranate peel. The dried extract was responsible for a significant increase in antioxidant activity of the juices, proportional to the concentrations added. However, although both flavors of enriched juices displayed high antioxidant levels, the samples with higher dried extract concentrations received the lowest scores from sensory analysis participants due to the characteristic astringent flavor of pomegranate peels. Therefore, to obtain greater acceptance in the consumer market, we concluded that the maximum addition of dried pomegranate peel extract is 0.5% in tomato juice and orange juice with strawberries.

In vivo analgesic activity and safety assessment of Vitis vinifera L and Punica granatum L fruits extracts

Purpose: To investigate the analgesic properties of fruit extracts of Vitis vinifera (grape) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) in Albino mal mice. Methods: The analgesic activity of fruit extracts of V. vinifera and P. granatum were examined in vivo using thermal stimulus assays (i.e., tail immersion and hot plate) and acetic acid-induced writhing test using acetylsalicylic acid (0.1 g/kg, per os) as standard. The extracts were administered orally in doses of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg. Results: In acetic acid writhes test, both fruit extract pretreatments (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg, per os) significantly decreased the number of writhes (p < 0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner compared to control. The Index of Pain Inhibition (IPI) values following V. vinifera extract treatments were 36.52 % (1.0 g/kg), 66.67 % (2.0 g/kg) and 89.71 % (3.0 g/kg) which were significantly different from those for P. granatum extracts (45.39 %, 1.0 g/kg), 70.93 %, 2.0 g/kg) and 86.88 %, 3.0 g/kg) at equivalent doses of 2.0 and 3.0 g/kg of the extracts The fruit extracts of both species increased the reaction latency time. In tail-immersion assay, only the fruit extract of P. granatum significantly increased the response to heat stimulus at doses of 2.0 g/kg (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The hydroalcohol fruit extracts of P. granatum and V. vinifera have potential analgesic effects. Further studies are needed to determine the active component responsible for this effect.

Fast HPLC method for anthocyanins determination in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice.

2012

Small molecule inhibitors of HCV replication from Pomegranate

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the causative agent of end-stage liver disease. Recent advances in the last decade in anti HCV treatment strategies have dramatically increased the viral clearance rate. However, several limitations are still associated, which warrant a great need of novel, safe and selective drugs against HCV infection. Towards this objective, we explored highly potent and selective small molecule inhibitors, the ellagitannins, from the crude extract of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit peel. The pure compounds, punicalagin, punicalin, and ellagic acid isolated from the extract specifically blocked the HCV NS3/4A protease activity in vitro. Structural analysis using computational approach also showed that ligand molecules interact with the catalytic and substrate binding residues of NS3/4A protease, leading to inhibition of the enzyme activity. Further, punicalagin and punicalin significantly reduced the HCV replication in cell culture system. More importantly, these compounds are well tolerated ex vivo and `no observed adverse effect level' (NOAEL) was established upto an acute dose of 5000 mg/kg in BALB/c mice. Additionally, pharmacokinetics study showed that the compounds are bioavailable. Taken together, our study provides a proof-of-concept approach for the potential use of antiviral and non-toxic principle ellagitannins from pomegranate in prevention and control of HCV induced complications.

石榴裂果发生规律及其防治对策研究

石榴裂果是云南蒙自石榴生产中的突出问题 ;从幼果期至成熟果期均会发生裂果。一般果园裂果率为 2 0 %～2 5 % ,严重的果园达 5 0 %～ 70 % ,造成严重经济损失。在掌握其发生规律的基础上 ,采取春初施足农家肥 ,花期至幼果期每间隔 7～ 10d灌水 1次 ;幼果期至果实膨长期适当控水 ,每间隔 10～ 15d灌水 1次 ;临近雨季前 1个月逐增浇灌水频率 ,每间隔 7～ 10d灌水 1次 ,并以少量多次施肥。缓解前期干旱、气候干燥和与后期雨季连续降雨、果园高湿矛盾 ,增强果皮活性、韧性和抗性 ,控制好主要病虫害。裂果率由原来的 2 0 %～ 2 5 %降为现 2 .5 %～ 3.7%。

石榴棉铃虫Heliothis倪糯谤m(Hubner) 发生规律及其防治研究

:石榴棉铃虫 (Heliothisarmigera (Hubner) ,属鳞翅目 (Lepidoptera) ,夜蛾科 (Noctuidae) ,是棉花的主要害虫 ,但也是云南蒙自石榴的主要害虫之一。但其发生危害规律尚不清楚 ,致使防治效果不佳。于 1 998～ 1 999年对该虫发生规模及综合防治进行了研究 ,为寻求有效防治方法提供参考

石榴豹纹木蠹蛾Zeuzera coffeae (Nietner)生物学及其防治研究

：石榴豹纹木蠢蛾是云南蒙自地区石榴的主要害虫之一。幼虫蛀害石榴树枝干，具多次转移危害习性，并在蛀道 内越冬。受害部位以上枝干萎蔫、枯死。危害枝干率达1．0％。15％，重者达30％。40％。该虫在云南蒙自石榴植区一 年发生一代，垮年度完成，越冬态不甚明显。采取综合防治措施后，其危害率由10％。15％降为0．2％～O．31％。

Ellagic acid, pomegranate and prostate cancer - a mini review.

There is currently a shifting focus towards finding natural compounds that may prevent or treat cancer, due to the problems that exist with current chemotherapeutic regimens. The fruit of the Punica granatum (pomegranate) contains hundreds of phytochemicals and pomegranate extracts have recently been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties, thought to be due to the action of ellagic acid, the main polyphenol in pomegranate. In this mini review the effects of pomegranate extracts and ellagic acid on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and their future potential are discussed.

Pomegranate liquor preparation and analysis

The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) liquor has been produced for several centuries in the south of Portugal, mainly in the mountain areas. The “Assaria” variety is the preferred cultivar due to its organoleptic properties and high arils to peel ratio. Wild pomegranates are also widely distributed but, despite the health benefits that have been associated to the fruits, they continue to be unappreciated for consumption. Liquor preparation is a very good alternative for wild pomegranate fruits. We prepared pomegranate liquors by following a maceration procedure using the arils or juice of Assaria and wild pomegranate fruits. Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) fruit spirits were used to prepare the liquors. At the end of the maceration time 5 day as minimum sugar syrup was added. The maturation period was three months or longer. The obtained liquors showed a very attractive pink colour. The colour and the total polyphenol, as well as the anthocyanin and ellagitannin profiles, were measured at the end of the maceration and maturation times. Wild pomegranates gave rise liquors with more intense pink colour and higher polyphenol contents than the prepared using Assaria fruits. The anthocyanin and ellagitannin profiles also indicated higher contents of polyphenols for liquors prepared using wild pomegranate fruits. When juice is used instead of complete arils during the maceration period punicalin is not present and the consequently total polyphenols is low. The main anthocyanins identified in the liquors were delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside, cyaniding-3,5-diglucoside, delphinidin–3-glucoside, cyaniding–3-glucoside, pelargonidin–3–glucoside; the main ellagitannins were punicalagin and punicalin.