Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice
Abstract Background Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex. Naudin have been shown to alter haematological and serum biochemical values of cockerels and rats. These alterations may possess hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and/or cause toxicity to the various organs in the animal models that could lead to...
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Springer Nature
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Discover Toxicology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44339-025-00021-1 |
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| author | Joy Gararawa Usman Usman Ngamarju Gadzama Comfort Bindu Thliza Ishaku Leo Elisha Israel Joshua Barde Monday Michael Onakpa Saka Sanni Olatunde Peter Ajagbonna |
| author_facet | Joy Gararawa Usman Usman Ngamarju Gadzama Comfort Bindu Thliza Ishaku Leo Elisha Israel Joshua Barde Monday Michael Onakpa Saka Sanni Olatunde Peter Ajagbonna |
| author_sort | Joy Gararawa Usman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex. Naudin have been shown to alter haematological and serum biochemical values of cockerels and rats. These alterations may possess hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and/or cause toxicity to the various organs in the animal models that could lead to unwanted side effects. However, there is paucity of information on its toxicological profile in mice. Therefore, this study investigates the in-vivo toxicological effects of the ripe fruits of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice. Methods The dried ground powder of Cucumis metuliferus (CM) was extracted with distilled water to obtain the crude aqueous extract (AE), which was used to investigate the body weight change, acute toxicity (24 h), and sub-acute toxicity (28 days) studies in Swiss albino mice. Mice were orally dosed with AE at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg. Blood and serum were collected on day 0 (before extract treatment) and after treatment on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 for determination of haematological parameters and serum biochemical respectively. The mice were humanely sacrifice on day 28 after blood collection, and liver, kidneys, and intestines were harvested for histopathology. Results The extract showed no significant (p ≥ 0.05) change in body weights of control and treated mice when compared to their day 0. But, it significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased red blood cell, packed cell volume, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, globulin, serum sodium and chloride, while it significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased total white blood cells, lymphocytes, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin, direct bilirubin, urea, and creatinine. Treated mice showed no sign of acute toxicity or mortality within 24 h. But, prolonged administration (sub-acute study) showed congestion in the liver at all tested doses, while necrosis of hepatocytes was only seen at 400 mg/kg. Conclusions The result obtained from this study revealed the probable safety of the fruit of Cucumis metuliferus within 24 h. However, prolonged administration of the extracts may cause injury to the liver or kidney. Thus, administration of unrefined extracts may require caution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6fd2aca98c2e493b9b2ea08f874a42c0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 3004-8893 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6fd2aca98c2e493b9b2ea08f874a42c02025-08-20T03:06:48ZengSpringer NatureDiscover Toxicology3004-88932025-04-012111410.1007/s44339-025-00021-1Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino miceJoy Gararawa Usman0Usman Ngamarju Gadzama1Comfort Bindu Thliza2Ishaku Leo Elisha3Israel Joshua Barde4Monday Michael Onakpa5Saka Sanni6Olatunde Peter Ajagbonna7Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FCT, University of AbujaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of MaiduguriCARE Veterinary ServicesDrug Development Division, National Veterinary Research InstituteCentral Diagnostic Laboratory Division, National Veterinary Research InstituteDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FCT, University of AbujaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FCT, University of AbujaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FCT, University of AbujaAbstract Background Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex. Naudin have been shown to alter haematological and serum biochemical values of cockerels and rats. These alterations may possess hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and/or cause toxicity to the various organs in the animal models that could lead to unwanted side effects. However, there is paucity of information on its toxicological profile in mice. Therefore, this study investigates the in-vivo toxicological effects of the ripe fruits of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice. Methods The dried ground powder of Cucumis metuliferus (CM) was extracted with distilled water to obtain the crude aqueous extract (AE), which was used to investigate the body weight change, acute toxicity (24 h), and sub-acute toxicity (28 days) studies in Swiss albino mice. Mice were orally dosed with AE at 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg. Blood and serum were collected on day 0 (before extract treatment) and after treatment on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 for determination of haematological parameters and serum biochemical respectively. The mice were humanely sacrifice on day 28 after blood collection, and liver, kidneys, and intestines were harvested for histopathology. Results The extract showed no significant (p ≥ 0.05) change in body weights of control and treated mice when compared to their day 0. But, it significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased red blood cell, packed cell volume, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, globulin, serum sodium and chloride, while it significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased total white blood cells, lymphocytes, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin, direct bilirubin, urea, and creatinine. Treated mice showed no sign of acute toxicity or mortality within 24 h. But, prolonged administration (sub-acute study) showed congestion in the liver at all tested doses, while necrosis of hepatocytes was only seen at 400 mg/kg. Conclusions The result obtained from this study revealed the probable safety of the fruit of Cucumis metuliferus within 24 h. However, prolonged administration of the extracts may cause injury to the liver or kidney. Thus, administration of unrefined extracts may require caution.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44339-025-00021-1Acute toxicitySub-acute toxicityBody weightMiceCucumis metuliferus |
| spellingShingle | Joy Gararawa Usman Usman Ngamarju Gadzama Comfort Bindu Thliza Ishaku Leo Elisha Israel Joshua Barde Monday Michael Onakpa Saka Sanni Olatunde Peter Ajagbonna Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice Discover Toxicology Acute toxicity Sub-acute toxicity Body weight Mice Cucumis metuliferus |
| title | Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice |
| title_full | Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice |
| title_fullStr | Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice |
| title_short | Toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of Cucumis metuliferus in Swiss albino mice |
| title_sort | toxicity assessment of the ripe fruit of cucumis metuliferus in swiss albino mice |
| topic | Acute toxicity Sub-acute toxicity Body weight Mice Cucumis metuliferus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44339-025-00021-1 |
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