Anti-diabetic and Lipidemic Effect of Muskmelon Fruits and Seeds on Streptozocin Induced Diabetic Rat

Background: The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus Worldwide and its complex nature of predisposing one to different ailments like obesity, eye defect, cardiovascular diseases etc. calls for alternative measures in the management of the disease. Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an underutilized food with a lot of nutritional and medical potential which are used traditionally in the management of different ailments like diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetes and anti-lipidemic effects of muskmelon fruits and seeds in streptozotocin induced-diabetic rats.

Methods: Diabetes was induced using intravenous Streptozotocin at a dose of 42 mg/kg of body weight into the tail veins to groups 2-5. Twenty-five male albino rats were divided into 5 groups, group 1 normal control, group 2- diabetic control, group 3- Glucophage treatment, group 4-500mg/kg BW muskmelon fruits extract, and group 5- 500mg/kg bw muskmelon seeds extract and were treated for 2 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, triglyceride, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol were evaluated.

Results: The result shows that the extract caused a significant increase in the body weight, HDL-cholesterol, and a significant decrease in triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose. Although the extract performed well there is a significant difference between the group that took Glucophage and the groups that ate muskmelon fruits and seed extract p<0.05

Conclusion: The result proved the anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic effect of muskmelon fruits and seeds which could be added to the pool of other food used in the management of diabetes mellitus which will lead to diet diversification.