Phenolic Composition and Inhibitory Ability of Methanolic Extract from Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) Seeds on Fe-induced Thiobarbituric acid reactive species in Albino Rat's Testicular Tissue In-Vitro

Abstract

Pumpkin seed has been associated with myriad of medicinal uses in different part of the world. In this study, phenolic composition and Fe 2+ induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) inhibitory ability of methanolic extract from pumpkin seeds in rat's testes homogenates were determined. The extract was prepared with 80% methanol (v/v) and the radicals [(1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS)] scavenging, Fe 2+ chelation and ferric reducing abilities of the extract were carried out. The phenolics composition was also investigated using gas chromatography couple with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The GC analysis revealed the presence of vallinic, coumaric protocatechuic, caffeic, ferulic and sinapinic acids, and apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol as the dominant phenolic compounds. The results revealed that the extract inhibited Fe 2+ -induced TBARS, scavenge DPPH radical and chelate Fe 2+ in a dose dependent manner. The extract also scavenged ABTS radical and reduced Fe 2+ to Fe 3+ . Although, the standard used had higher effect compared to the extract, nevertheless, the TBARs inhibitory potential of the extracts clearly gives an insight on the protective potentials against oxidative induce testicular damage that might lead to male infertility if unchecked. These abilities could however be linked to the presence of polyphenolic compounds.

Protective role of Limonium bonduelli extract against non-enzymatic peroxidation in brain and testes induced by iron in vitro.

“…This finding is in agreement with results provided by others, who demonstrated the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and Newbuoldia laevis leaves on FeSO4 and Sodium Nitroprusside induced lipid peroxidation in rat testes in vitro [43]. In same study the methanolic extract from the pumpkin seed was shown to modulate FeSO4induced TBARs production in albino rat's testicular tissue in-vitro [44].…”

Cucurbita argyrosperma Seed Extracts Attenuate Angiogenesis in a Corneal Chemical Burn Model

“…Although we are still characterizing the bioactive compounds in the methanolic extract, we can speculate that the content of phytochemicals is similar to the C. pepo seed [16]. Some of these components include flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin, and apigenin, which at low concentration intakes have protective anti-inflammatory effects on human retinal pigment epithelial damage by hypoxia, inhibiting VEGF and factors related to its activation [37].…”

“…Nutritionally, pumpkin seed has a high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as proteins, vitamins, several minerals, and other phytochemicals. The anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties of this seed are studied due to its high content of natural bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, tocopherols, and sterols [16,17,18,19].…”

Anticholinesterase activity and phenolic profile of two medicinal plants (Quassia undulataandSenecio abyssinicus) used in managing cognitive dysfunction in Nigeria

“…The scavenging ability of the extracts against DPPH (1,1‐diphenyl–2 picrylhydrazyl) radical was evaluated as described by Akomolafe et al (). The method of Oboh, Ademiluyi, et al () was used to determine the ability of the extract to scavenge hydroxyl radical produced from the decomposition of deoxyribose induced by Fe 2+ /H 2 O 2 mixture.…”