European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LEAF AND FRUIT EXTRACT OF Cucumis sativus ON LIVER FUNCTION PARAMETERS OF ADULT MALE WISTER RAT

Egbiremhon B. O.*, Nnaoma I. E., Joseph R. C., Joel O. and Oguebie R. N.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to evaluate the comparative effect of Cucumis sativus leaf and fruit juice on the liver of albino rats. 50 wistar albino rats having an average mean weight were divided into five groups consisting of Ten (10) animals in each group. Group A served as normal control, and groups B, C, D, and E served as test groups administered with low and high doses of Cucumis sativus leaf extract and fruit juice. The experimental period lasted for Twenty-eight (28) days after which the animals were sacrificed and their blood collected for analysis. The liver function test was evaluated by determining the concentration in serum ALT, AST, ALP, Bil, TP, and Glob spectrophotometrically. The result obtained was presented as mean ± SEM. The result of the present study revealed for the Total proteins (TP) and Albumin (ALB) that the fruit juice extract was significantly different (P<0.05) from the normal control group and those treated with the leaf extract. The Globulin level of the treated rats with the leaf extract and fruit juice was not significantly different (P>0.05) from the normal control groups. The AST level of rats treated with a high dose of leaf extract (800mg/kg) was significantly different (P<0.05) from the control group and groups treated with fruit juice. However, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the ALT level of groups treated with leaf extract and fruit juice when compared to the control group. ALP levels among the treated and control rat groups showed a no significant (P>0.05) difference suggesting no changes in the ALP levels. Bilirubin levels of rats treated with fruit juice were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the control group and group treated with a high dose (800mg/kg) of the leaf extract but groups treated with low dose (400mg/kg) of leaf extract were significantly different (P<0.05) from the control group and group treated with fruit juice. The findings of this study reveal that Cucumis sativus leaf and fruit juice extract are safe and non-toxic for the liver.

Keywords: Cucumis sativus, Liver, Herbal Medicine, Medicinal plants.