EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF POMEGRANATE PEEL (PUNICA GRANATUM) ON GHRELIN AND RESISTIN HORMONE LEVELS, LIPID PROFILE AND BODY WEIGHT IN EXPERIMENTAL MICE

This study included extraction of phenolic compounds from pomegranate peels using a continuous extraction apparatus (Soxhlet) with 70 % Ethanol. Qualitative Screening of the Pomegranate Peel Ethanolic extract revealed a high content of Polyphenols, Tannins, Flavonoids, and Anthocyanins. Additionally, in this Study four groups (I, II, III, and IV) of male Experimental Mice, each group of (15) mice. Groups II, III, and IV were orally administered the Pomegranate Peel polyphenol extract at doses of 300, 400, and 500 µg/10 g of body weight, respectively, for a duration of four weeks. Group I served as the control group (untreated with the aforementioned extract). Subsequently, blood samples were collected from the groups to perform the necessary analyses. The findings of this study demonstrated that the ethanolic extract of pomegranate peels led to a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the mean values of both Body Weight and body mass index (BMI) in the treated mice groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results showed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the Biochemical Parameters, including glucose, Total Cholesterol (TC): Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-c): and Triglycerides (TG). Conversely, a significant increase (P≤0.05) was observed in High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-c) in the serum of the mice groups treated with the extract compared to the control group. Additionally, this study showed the effect of the Pomegranate Peel Ethanolic Extract on the serum levels of ghrelin and resistin hormones in the mice groups, The Results indicated a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in the levels of both hormones compared to the control group.