The effects of pomegranate on bacterial translocation in rats with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice ma y promote bacterial overgrowth and altered intestinal barrier function, with resul - tant increased bacterial translocation. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate potential effects of pomegranate on bacterial transloca - tion after bile duct ligation in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1 underwent sham operation; Group 2 underwent sham operation and simultaneous treatment with pomegranate; Group 3 underwent common bile duct ligation, and Group 4 underwent com - mon bile duct ligation and simultaneous treat - ment with pomegranate. After 8 days, the sam - ples of systemic blood, liver, spleen and mesen - teric lymph nodes (MLNs) were obtained under sterile conditions for microbiological culture. The segments of the ileum were removed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation significantly decreased in Group 4 compared to Group 3 ( p = 0.007). The bacterial counts (Colony forming unit: CFU/g) of Group 3 were significantly higher than those of Groups 1, 2 and 4 ( p < 0.05). The mean ileal villus heights in the Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 480.5±20.5 µm, 494.7±17.3 µm, 356.3±25.7 µm and 420.7±23.7 µm, respectively. The mean villus height in Group 4 was higher than that of Group 3 ( p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Pomegranate has significant protective effects on intestinal mucosa barrier in obstructive jaundice and reduces bacterial translocation.