Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Special Food and Nutrition Department, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centrer, Egypt, Giza
2
Special Food and Nutrition Department, Food Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, Giza
3
Home Economics Department, Faculty of Specific Education, Mansoura University, Egypt
10.21608/ftrj.2025.426913.1183
Abstract
The present study investigated the protective effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) fruit powder against lead- and cadmium-induced toxicity in male albino rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats (150 ± 10 g) were divided into five groups (n = 6): a negative control, a positive control exposed to lead and cadmium, and three treatment groups receiving diets supplemented with 2.5%, 5%, and 10% dried L. siceraria powder for 28 days. Serum biomarkers of oxidative stress (MDA), liver and kidney function, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzymes were analyzed, and histopathological examination of liver tissue was performed. Exposure to heavy metals caused significant increases in serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, AST, ALT, ALP, and MDA levels, while HDL-c and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) decreased markedly. Dietary supplementation with L. siceraria, particularly at 10%, significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated these adverse effects, restoring biochemical parameters and improving liver tissue architecture. These findings demonstrate the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potential of L. siceraria fruit, likely due to its rich content of bioactive antioxidants.
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