Electron microscopic analysis of pomegranate and black chokeberry effects on acute pancreatitis in rats

Despite numerous experimental and clinical studies in terms of novel therapeutic strategies, the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) is still symptomatic. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of Punica-granatum L. (pomegranate) and Aronia-melanocarpa (black chokeberry) which both have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions on the treatment of AP. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups: Control, AP, pomegranate, and black chokeberry groups. To create AP, L-arginine was administered intraperitoneally. The rats from the pomegranate and black chokeberry groups were administered two doses of pomegranate and black chokeberry extract orally after each L-arginine injection for 7 days. Pancreatic tissues were processed for light and electron microscopic and biochemical evaluations. L-arginine administration resulted in severe necrotic AP characterized by necrosis, apoptosis, and significant increases in serum amylase, and lipase levels as well as tissue total oxidant status (TOS) levels. Degenerated organelles, apoptotic bodies, and myelinic figures were observed by electron microscopic examination. Both pomegranate and black chokeberry had beneficial effects on the treatment of AP via decreasing total histopathological damage score, apoptosis rate, and serum and tissue TOS levels. These beneficial effects of pomegranate and black chokeberry extracts may offer compelling information that may inspire and guide the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of AP.