Antioxidant, biochemical, and in-life effects of Punica granatum L. natural juice vs. clarified juice by polyvinylidene fluoride membrane

A clarification method was proposed to ameliorate technological quality of fruit juices by preserving bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activities, and the in vivo effects of Punica granatum L. natural (NJ) and clarified (CJ) juice by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane. CJ was more active as antioxidant and as ?-glucosidase inhibitor than NJ. Mice were orally gavaged with water (Control), NJ and CJ for 28 days. NJ group showed significant decrease of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino transferase and creatine-phosphokinase. CJ administration was associated with urea, creatine-phosphokinase and triglycerides values significantly lower respect to the Control. Oxidative status was ameliorated with CJ administration, showing a reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) reduction of 32% and a biological antioxidant potential (BAP) boosting of 23% compared to the Control, whereas NJ did not show a similar effect. Results confirmed the beneficial properties of pomegranate juice showing that membrane clarification may enhance such effects in terms of antioxidant activity.