Figure 4. Effects of pomegranate extract supplementation on antioxidant capacity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of control and hypertensive rats.

Control and hypertensive rats were administered either saline or pomegranate extract (150 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks, sacrificed, and homogenates were prepared from the paraventricular nucleus. (A) Superoxide dismutase activity, (B) reduced glutathione level, (C) oxidized glutathione level, (D) the ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione, (E) lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde concentration, and (F) total antioxidant capacities were calculated using commercial kits. Values are the mean ± SEM from 8 animals. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rats; PE, pomegranate extract; PVN, paraventricular nucleus.