Energy drink consumption, particularly among teenagers and young adults, hasexperienced a significant rise in recent years. However, mounting research points tothe potential for chronic energy drink use to cause biochemical and histologicalabnormalities in vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and reproductive system. Toinvestigate whether pomegranate peel extract could offer protection against thesetoxic effects, this study was conducted on adult male albino rats divided into fivegroups: a control group, a pomegranate peel extract group, an energy drink groupadministered Red Bull®, a group pre-treated with pomegranate peel extract beforeenergy drink consumption, and a group given energy drink followed bypomegranate peel extract. Over a 12-week treatment period, serum and tissuesamples were collected to analyze liver and kidney function markers, lipid profile,oxidative stress levels, and histological changes. Rats those consumed energy drinksfor 12 weeks exhibited elevated liver enzymes, impaired kidney function, disruptedlipid profiles, increased oxidative stress, and noticeable morphological changes inliver, kidney, and testicular tissues. In contrast, rats those received pomegranatepeel extract either before or after energy drink consumption showed significantimprovements in these parameters, demonstrating the protective effects ofpomegranate peel extract in attenuating biochemical abnormalities and restoringtissue histology. These findings suggest that pomegranate peel extract has boththerapeutic and preventive potential against the toxicity induced by chronic energydrink consumption, offering valuable insights that could inform strategies to reducethe adverse health effects associated with the regular use of energy drinks |
