Abstract

EFFECT OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CITRULUS LANATUS SEED ON LIPID PROFILE AND OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS OF ACETAMINOPHEN INTOXICATED RATS

Damilola Alex Omoboyowa* and Adekunle Adebo Ajayi

ABSTRACT

The effect of methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seed on lipid profile and antioxidants of acetaminophen exposed hepatotoxic rats were investigated using standard protocols. A total of twenty (20) male Wistar rats distributed normally into four groups (n = 4) were used for the study. Group I rats served as normal control and were not exposed to paracetamol, while groups II, III, IV and V rats were exposed to 750 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol, served as intoxicated test groups. Groups II, III, IV and V were administered 0.5 ml distilled water, 5 mg/kg b. w of silymarin, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of C. lanatus methanol seed extract respectively. The results indicated the presence of the phytochemical constituents of the extract in the order: Alkaloids > Steroids > Terpenoids > Flavonoids > Phenol > Saponins > Tannins > Cyanogenic glycosides. Result of the acute toxicity test showed that the extract is safe at a dosage of up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The result of the biochemical analysis of this study showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol of the rats exposed to Paracetamol and treated with the plant extract compared with the rats exposed to Paracetamol administered 0.5 ml of distilled water. The rats exposed to 750 mg/kg b.w. of Paracetamol and treated with varying doses of the extract showed non-significant (P>0.05) increase in VLDL, HDL and TAG concentration compared with the rats exposed to Paracetamol and 0.5 ml of distilled water. The animals exposed to 750 mg/kg b. w. of paracetamol and treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of the extract showed significant (P< 0.05) increase in the antioxidant parameters compared with the rats exposed to 750 mg/kg b.w of paracetamol and administered 0.5 ml of distilled water. The observed increase in the lipid profile of the treated animals reveal the ameliorating effect of dyslipidemia observed in paracetamol intoxicated rats. These activities exhibited by methanol seed extract of C. lanatus can substantiate its use in the treatment of free radical generation and lipid imbalance in traditional medicine.

Keywords: Paracetamol; Hepatotoxic; dyslipidemia; Phytochemicals; Toxicity.