Antioxidant and anti-lipidemic effect of citrullus lanatus pulp on calcium carbide induce toxicity in male wistar rat model

Calcium carbide, a fruit-ripening agent most used in this part of the globe, is made available because of its low cost and usage, which is more convenient to vendors. It is known that cell death results from an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant defense system, which links with lipid peroxidation and leads to dyslipidemia. Twenty-(20) male Wistar rats weighing 140-200g were used for the study and subdivided into four groups of five animals each. Group A received feed and distilled water only, group B received 100mg/kg of Calcium carbide only and left untreated, group C received 100mg/kg and treated with the 100mg/kg of ECLS. Group D received 100mg/kg and treated with 500mg/kg of ECLS through oral gavage for 21 days. Data were obtained for total cholesterol, Triglyceride, High-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, Superoxide-dismutase, Catalase, and glutathione reductase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Total antioxidant capacity were subjected to SPSS version 25 (IBM, USA, 2018). ANOVA was used to analyzed the data followed by post HOC Turkey HSD, and values were considered significant at p<0.05. The results showed that Calcium carbide caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in Superoxide-dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione reductase, Glutathione Peroxidase, and Total antioxidant capacity compared to group A, while treatment with ECLS raised the antioxidants levels significantly as observed in group C and D. Calcium carbide had a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in total cholesterol, Triglyceride, High-density lipoprotein, and Low-density lipoprotein; treatments with the ECLS revealed a significant (p<0.05) higher level of triglyceride at group D, High-density lipoprotein had a significant (p<0.05) higher level at group C, and low-density lipoprotein showed a significant (p<0.05) higher level at group C and D. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus possesses antioxidant activities and anti-lipidemic activity based on dose-dependent.