Fatty Acid Composition Of Citrullus Lanatus (Egusi Melon) Oil And Its Effect On Serum Lipids And Some Serum Enzymes

Oil from the seeds of Citrullus lanatus (egusi melon) was extracted and its fatty acid composition determined. The extracted oil was used in diet formulation and fed (as a supplement to cholesterol-based diet) to rats for a period of 6 weeks to determine its effect on serum lipids and some selected serum enzymes used to aid diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. The control rats were fed a diet containing 5% cholesterol without egusi melon oil while the experimental rats received a diet containing 5% cholesterol with 5% egusi melon oil. Serum cholesterol in the total, free and esterified forms were determined weekly. In addition, serum activities of LDH, ALT, AST, and γ-GT were also monitored. Egusi melon oil with a rich content of polyunsaturated fatty acid was found to produce a significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum total, free and esterified cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. A similar corresponding significant reduction (p<0.05) in serum activities of the enzymes were observed in the egusi melon oil-fed rats. In addition, feeding egusi melon oil (5% in the diet) to rats reduced severe atherosclerosis in the aorta. Histopathological examination showed that egusi melon oil reduced foam cell formation and inhibited smooth muscle cell migration in the blood vessel of rats. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to hypercholesterolemia.