Phytochemicals and antidiabetic activity of the aqueous extract of the Punica granatum fruit in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

The present study investigated the phytochemicals and antidiabetic effect of the aqueous extract of the fruit of Punica granatum Linn. in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The fruit of P. granatum was extracted with water. The phytochemicals of the water extract were investigated by the liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The water extract of P. granatum at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) was administered to mice for 21 days, and blood glucose level, triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme were estimated. Analyzed phytochemicals showed the fruit of P. granatum Linn has a high amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which provide beneficial effect for this plant. The oral administration of the fruit extract of P. granatum at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg bw for 21 days significantly reduced blood glucose level, triglycerides, serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, AST and ALT enzyme. Our results suggested that the fruit extract of P. granatum has strong antidiabetic effect in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The fruit of this plant might be a potential source of drug for treatment of diabetes.