Acute Toxicological Assessment and Investigation of Cardioprotective Potential of Processed Pumpkin (Cucurbita Maxima) Seed Flour

Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima) are medicinally useful. It has pharmacological activities such as anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation activities, antioxidant effects. The in vitro antioxidant capacity of the processed pumpkin seed flour was investigated. In addition, the acute toxicological assay was carried out by grouping experimental male rats (150 - 200 g) into four groups (n=5). Each of the groups were fed with each of the processed samples (100%) respectively, except control that was fed normal rat chow for two weeks. The cardioprotective property of the processed sample was further investigated. The experimental animals were divided into nine groups (n=5) each and at the end of two weeks, the heart, liver, and blood were obtained for biochemical parameters. Fermented C. maxima seed flour exhibited the highest antioxidant properties. The acute toxicological result revealed that processed seeds flour caused significant alteration in the activities/levels of serum biochemical indices and the antioxidant parameters in the heart and liver as compared with the control. In addition, the cardioprotective study revealed that doxorubicin intoxication caused significant alterations in the cardiac serum biochemical indices, lipid profile, electrolytes, and cardiac antioxidant parameters Also, doxorubicin caused a dose-dependent elevation in the atherogenic indices. However, pretreatment with processed C. maxima seed flour significantly prevented most of these derangement in a comparable manner to that of induced group. This study revealed that processed C. maxima seed flour especially fermented sample at 60% diet supplement offered protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity probably via antioxidative and antihyperlipidemic mechanisms.

Keywords:Cucurbita maxima; Cardiotoxicity; Doxorubicin; Antioxidants; Antihyperlipidemic