Protection Effect of Punicalagin Isolated from Pomegranate on Inflammation and Ethanol-induced Gastric Mucosal Injury

Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of gastritis. The activation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), associated with reactive oxygen species, is a key process in the inflammatory response of ethanol-induced gastritis. Punicalagin, a naturally occurring active ingredient of pomegranate, is a potential antioxidant. In this study, pomegranate extract and punicalagin exhibited free radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with pomegranate extract also exerted gastroprotective effects by reducing the inflammatory response to ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Furthermore, punicalagin inhibited the expression of inflammatory COX-2 by suppressing the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. These findings suggest that punicalagin may be beneficial for the prevention and/or treatment of gastric inflammation.