Diabetes: Chapter25. Oxidative Stress and the Lung in Diabetes: The Use of Pomegranate Juice

Diabetes causes oxidative stress through the autooxidation of glucose, protein glycation and lipid peroxidation; and as a consequence, structural and functional alterations occur in the lungs of diabetics, as well as other organs like the heart, brain, eyes and kidneys. There is growing, well-established evidence regarding such changes in diabetic lungs. Pomegranate (Punica granatum), a rich source of potent polyphenolic, flavonoid antioxidants, is known to scavenge free radicals and to inhibit lipid peroxidation, thus is able to supress activation of nuclear factor-kappa B, a transcription factor activated by reactive oxygen species. Hence, it is possible to use pomegranate and its components to diminish the oxidative stress leading to impairment in lungs due to diabetes mellitus.