Combined Antioxidant Recovery Properties of Fruit Juice Extracts of Cucumber and Water Melon on Lipid Profile and Gonadal Steroid Levels of Cadmium Induced Testicular Damage on Male Albino Rats
F. C. Anacletus
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
B. Nwakaku
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, East-West Road, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria.
K. T. Nwauche *
Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry Unit), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Rhema University, P.M.B. 7021, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The antioxidant protective effects of fruit juice of cucumber and watermelon on lipid profile of cadmium induced toxicity on male albino rats was investigated. Forty male rats were divided into eight groups. Group NC served as normal control group while group PC was positive control that was not treated but induced with cadmium. Groups I to VI received high dose and low dose of juice of Cucumber and Watermelon respectively. Excluding the normal control group, other groups were fed with lard 14 days before treatment commenced. Doses of 0.8 mg/kg-high dose and 0.4 mg/kg-low dose for cucumber and watermelon respectively. At the 4th and 6th week, biochemical parameters were assayed. Results revealed that the levels of total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglyceride significantly (P˂0.05) were decreased compared to positive control but HDL was increased in treatment groups compared to positive control. Pretreatment with cucumber and watermelon juice indicated that total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglyceride significantly (P˂0.05) were decreased compared to positive control but HDL was increased in treatment groups compared to positive control. The result also revealed an increase in testosterone levels in treated groups after 4 weeks of administration of whole extract of cucumber and watermelon when compared to their week 2 values. Testosterone level in positive control was also reduced significantly from 1.5±0.14 ng/ml to 0.46±0.31 ng/ml. Histological evaluation of the testes of normal control group revealed that the interstitium was intact with leydig cells present and maturing germ cells embedded in normal seminiferous tubules while the other groups that were induced with cadmium only showed morphology of testes with empty seminiferous tubules and consolidated interstitial spaces.
Keywords: Cadmium, water melon, cucumber, lipid, toxicity