Modulation of Energy Drink-Induced Hepato-renal and Testicular
Toxicity by Pomegranate Peel Extract: Insights from
Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Analyses
Mohamed M. S. Gaballa1, Osama Ahmed2,3, Sally
Elsharkawey4, Marim Fayz Abdow5, Salma Shoulah6, Fatma
Wahba Hassan7,
Mohamed Alkafafy8, Khalil Mohamed9, Ahmed
Soliman10, Ahmed Farag11,
Mohamed Aboubakr12* and Mohamed Shaalan13,14
1Department
of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University,
Toukh 13736, Egypt; 2Department of Anatomy and
Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh
13736, Egypt; 3Department of Anatomy and Embryology,
Veterinary Medicine program, Benha National University, Egypt;
4Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology,
Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt; 5Department
of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University,
Egypt; 6 Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious
Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University,Toukh
13736, Egypt;
7
Physiology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo
University, 12211 Giza, Egypt;
8 Department
of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944,
Saudi Arabia;
9 Department
of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health and
Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University,
Saudi Arabia; 10 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211 Giza, Egypt;
11
Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Radiology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 12* Department
of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University,
Toukh 13736, Egypt; 13 Department of Pathology, Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt; 14
Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9,
845 41 Bratislava, Slovakia.
*Corresponding author:
mohamed.aboubakr@fvtm.bu.edu.eg
Abstract
Energy drink consumption, particularly among teenagers and young adults, has
experienced a significant rise in recent years. However, mounting research
points to the potential for chronic energy drink use to cause biochemical and
histological abnormalities in vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and
reproductive system. To investigate whether pomegranate peel extract could offer
protection against these toxic effects, this study was conducted on adult male
albino rats divided into five groups: a control group, a pomegranate peel
extract group, an energy drink group administered Red Bull®, a group
pre-treated with pomegranate peel extract before energy drink consumption, and a
group given energy drink followed by pomegranate peel extract. Over a 12-week
treatment period, serum and tissue samples were collected to analyze liver and
kidney function markers, lipid profile, oxidative stress levels, and
histological changes. Rats those consumed energy drinks for 12 weeks exhibited
elevated liver enzymes, impaired kidney function, disrupted lipid profiles,
increased oxidative stress, and noticeable morphological changes in liver,
kidney, and testicular tissues. In contrast, rats those received pomegranate
peel extract either before or after energy drink consumption showed significant
improvements in these parameters, demonstrating the protective effects of
pomegranate peel extract in attenuating biochemical abnormalities and restoring
tissue histology. These findings suggest that pomegranate peel extract has both
therapeutic and preventive potential against the toxicity induced by chronic
energy drink consumption, offering valuable insights that could inform
strategies to reduce the adverse health effects associated with the regular use
of energy drinks.
To Cite This Article:
GaballaMMS, AhmedO, ElsharkaweyS, AbdowMF, ShoulahS, Hassan FW,
AlkafafyM, Mohamed K, Soliman A, Farag A,
AboubakrM and ShaalanM, 2024.
Modulation of Energy Drink-Induced
Hepato-renal and Testicular Toxicity by Pomegranate Peel Extract: Insights from
Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Analyses. Pak Vet J.
http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.293