ABSTRACT
Cucumis sativus Linn. is a vegetable climber with a wide variety of biological and medicinal uses due to its abundance in carbohydrates, proteins, minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc), and secondary metabolites like alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and phenolic compounds. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible changes in the prefrontal cortex of adult Wistar rats following the administration of aqueous Cucumis sativus extract. For this study, 15 rats were used. The rats were divided into three (3) groups (A, B and C) at random, each consisting of five rats, with group A serving as the control group and others as test groups. Group A (Control) received standard rat food and water, whereas group B and C received Cucumis sativus at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively. At the end of the administration, neurobehavioral (Y-MAZE) test was carried out to investigate the spontaneous alternation of the experimental rats. Rats were then sacrificed and the cerebrum was harvested and processed in the laboratory. The brain and body weight changes, antioxidants (SOD, CAT, MDA and GSH) activity and the histology of the cerebrum was observed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous Cucumis sativus extract administration. Although the results showed slight differences at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg when compared with control for antioxidants (SOD, CAT, MDA and GSH), body weight and neurobehavioral activity (Y-MAZE TEST), the differences were not significant. For histology, findings reveal that aqueous Cucumuis sativus extract did not adversely affect the rats. These findings indicate that Cucumis sativus is not toxic to the rats and could be safe for consumption.
