Title:Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Algerian Punica granatum
L. Peel Extracts
Volume: 19
Issue: 3
Author(s): Naila Chaabna*, Oumaima Naili, Nafissa Ziane, Chawki Bensouici, Saliha Dahamna and Daoud Harzallah
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University Ferhat Abbas Setif 1, Setif,
19000, Algeria
Keywords:
Anti-cholinesterase, neuroprotective activity, enzyme inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity, Punica granatum, peel extract, bioactive compounds.
Abstract:
Background: Oxidative stress is implicated in many neurodegenerative disorders, such as
Alzheimer’s disease. As an alternative, Punica granatum peels are widely used in the treatment of several
ailments. To date, this is the first study on the anti-acetyl/butyrylcholinesterase effects of diethyl
ether extract from Algerian pomegranate peels.
Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the content of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, and tannins
in Punica granatum peel crude extract and its fraction diethyl ether, as well as to assess its antioxidant
and neuroprotective activities.
Methods: The total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and tannin contents in the extracts were evaluated using
spectrophotometric methods. The inhibitory effects on acetyl/butyrylcholinesterase were assessed
using the in vitro models. In addition, several methods were used to investigate the antioxidant capacity
of extracts, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-
6-sulfonate) (ABTS) free radicals scavenging, phenanthroline, reducing power and cupric ion reducing
antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) assays.
Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that the diethyl ether extract recorded the highest content of
total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, and tannins with values of 643.3 ± 9.96 μgGAE/mg, 78.97 ± 9.97
μgQE/mg, 31.32 ± 1.79 μgQE/mg and 96.6 ± 13.65 μgTAE/mg, respectively. Moreover, the diethyl
ether extract exhibited the strongest activity in the DPPH scavenging assay (IC50=3.36 ± 0.11 μg/mL),
ABTS scavenging assay (IC50=1.46 ± 0.10 μg/mL), CUPRAC assay (CA0.5=3.62 ± 0.36 μg/mL), phenanthroline
assay (CA0.5=1.04 ± 0.10 μg/mL), reducing power assay (CA0.5=4.14 ± 0.32 μg/mL), antiacetylcholinesterase
assay (IC50=114.86 ± 13.66μg/mL), and anti-butyrylcholinesterase assay
(IC50=147.00 ± 10.41 μg/mL).
Conclusion: The present study has shown the extracts from Punica granatum peel to be a rich source of
bioactive compounds, potent antioxidants, and cholinesterase inhibitors. They could be considered as
natural agents that can be used in anti-neurodegenerative pharmaceutical formulations.