METHANOL EXTRACT OF CUUMIS SATIVUS PEEL EXHIBITS ANTI-DIABESITY AND ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES IN MICE: AN IN VIVO STUDY

Abstract

The presented work aims to evaluate the efficacy of Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) peel methanol extract on diabetic-obese (Diaobese) albino mice in ameliorating hyperglycaemia, obesity, and dyslipidemia. The animals in the experimental groups were as follows: two doses of hydromethanolic extract of C. sativus at the doses of 250 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg, a glucophage-treated group, and another group fed on an HFD and a control group. In the present study, HFD caused substantial weight gain and the HFD group gained an average of 76.23 % of their initial body weight compared to 35.12% of the ND group. The higher dose of C. sativus extract at 450 mg/kg produced a greater reaction than 250 mg/kg on weight change, blood glucose level, and lipid profiles. More significantly, where a higher dose of 450 mg/kg dose, it reduced average blood glucose from 259.34 mg/dL to 175.34 after six weeks while other essential biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides were also reduced to near normal levels while body HDL level is raised. Concerning fat absorption, the fecal fat analysis suggested a lowering of fat absorption since both doses of C. sativus extract increased fecal fat content, although not as steeply as glucophage. The  methanol peel extract showed significant response to the HL-60 xenograft cancer cells modeland significantly decreased tumor weight by 1.45 ± 0.56 g and the inhibition rate of tumor growth of 46% while the the standard drug vinblastine had the tumor weight of 1.94 ± 0.21 g and the inhibition rate of 62 % thereby indicating that the peel extract has therapeutic properties.

This study therefore indicates that C. sativus peel extract may be of potential beneficial value in terms of its use as a natural supplement to manage metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity at higher concentrations of the extract