Abstract:
Objective: This study was planned over the hypothesis that pomegranate extract rich in ellagic acid used with minocycline
could decrease its adverse effect and prolong its therapeutic use and efficacy.
Study design and Setting: This experimental study was done in the department of anatomy, Basic Medical Sciences
Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi,
Methodology: We acquired 40 guinea pigs (male, adult, 450 – 550 gm), randomly divided them into 4 groups.Group B
received 0.0003mg/g bodyweight of minocycline only, group C was given 0.0003mg/g bodyweight of minocycline with
0.4mg/g bodyweight of pomegranate, group D was given 0.4mg/g bodyweight pomegranate only; with keeping group A
with no intervention at laboratory diet for 8 weeks. After the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed, H & E and
DOPA-OXIDASE staining was done on harvested skin tissues for morphometric observations under light microscopy.
Results: The results showed that minocycline induced reduction in mean thickness of epidermis and increased melanin
pigment deposition. Mean number of melanocytes decreased with pomegranate use though the difference was insignificant
(P-value > 0.05) but consistent and measurable.
Conclusions: It was proven that by including pomegranate in our daily diet, the process of hyperpigmentation of skin
induced by the broad spectrum tetracycline particularly minocycline, can be slow down by decreasing the activity of
tyrosinase enzyme, thus it provides a novel pathway to fight against any other drug induced hyperpigmentation occurring
due to increase activity of tyrosinase enzyme.