Protective Effects of Alkaloids of Cucumis metuliferus Isolated from the Fruit Pulp on some Vital Organs

Abstract

The protective effects of the alkaloids of Cucumis metuliferus fruit pulp on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in adult albino rats were investigated. The result showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) in CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of the electrolytes (Na+, K+) which were dose dependent in gentamicin induced nephrotoxic rats compared to the controls. The dose dependent decrease in the level of urea was statistically significant (P<0.05), and there was a significant decrease in the levels of creatinine when 200 mg/kg of the alkaloid was administered to the rats alone. This result showed that alkaloids of C.metuliferus have protective effects on both the liver and kidney tissues.