English

Abstract

The effect of methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seed on lipid profile and anti-oxidants in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxic rats was investigated in the present study. A total of twenty (20) male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 4). Group I served as normal control and were not exposed to paracetamol. Group II was exposed to 750 mg/kg body weight of paracetamol( intoxicated group),. Group III was administered with 0.5 ml distilled water, 5 mg/kg b. w of silymarin and group IV and V were administered with200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight of C. lanatus methanolic seed extract respectively.. We found that C. lanatus extract is safe at a dosage of up to 5000 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical analysis of current study showed 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 (Vehicle). Moreover 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 to the animals exposed to 750 mg/kg b.w of paracetamol and0.5 ml of distilled water. The increase in the lipid profile of the treated animals reveal the ameliorating effect of dyslipidemia as observed in paracetamol intoxicated animals. Taken together methanolic seed extract of C. lanatus can substantiate its use as therapeutic agent against lipid imbalance and free radical generation in traditional system of medicine.