Introduction: Cadmium (Cd) contamination in aquatic environments threatens fish health by inducing oxidative stress and bioaccumulation. Natural antioxidants like pomegranate peel extract powder (PPEP) may help mitigate these effects through metal chelation and oxidative defense. This study evaluates PPEP’s potential to reduce Cd accumulation and oxidative damage in common carp. Methods: The protective effects of PPEP, as a natural dietary supplement, against Cd accumulation was evaluated by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and the effect of PPEP on the oxidative effects of Cd in common carp was assessed via the determination of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and carbonyl content. Moreover, the bioaccumulation of some minerals (copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn)) was also evaluated in the studied carps. Results: The feeding with different concentrations of PPEP (1, 2 and 4% wt) could significantly reduce the level of Cd in the fillet samples (P<0.05). Moreover, this supplementation also resulted in lower concentrations of Cu and Mg, while Zn was unaffected. Based on TBARs analysis, the levels of oxidation in Cd-supplemented samples were reduced (27-38%) by the PPEP treatments (P<0.05). However, no correlation was detected between protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation markers in the fish samples (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PPEP effectively reduces cadmium accumulation and oxidative stress in common carp fillets. While PPEP mitigates lipid peroxidation, its impact on essential minerals like Cu and Mg requires further investigation. These findings support PPEP as a natural dietary strategy to improve fish health in aquaculture.

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