Pomegranate juice is a rich source of
ellagitannins (ETs) believed to contribute to a wide range of pomegranate's health benefits. While a lot of experimental studies have been devoted to
Alzheimer disease and hypoxic-ischemic
brain injury, our knowledge of pomegranate's effects against
Parkinson's disease (PD) is very limited. It is suggested that its
neuroprotective effects are mediated by ETs-derived metabolites-urolithins. In this study, we examined the capability of pomegranate juice for protection against PD in a rat model of
parkinsonism induced by
rotenone. To evaluate its efficiency, assessment of postural instability, visualization of neurodegeneration, determination of oxidative damage to
lipids and α-
synuclein level, as well as markers of
antioxidant defense status,
inflammation, and apoptosis, were performed in the midbrain. We also check the presence of plausible active pomegranate ETs-derived metabolite,
urolithin A, in the plasma and brain. Our results indicated that pomegranate juice treatment provided neuroprotection as evidenced by the postural stability improvement, enhancement of neuronal survival, its protection against oxidative damage and α-
synuclein aggregation, the increase in
mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and maintenance of antiapoptotic
Bcl-xL protein at the control level. In addition, we have provided evidence for the distribution of
urolithin A to the brain.