Effects of Aqueous-Methanol Leaf Extract of <i>Luffa cylindrica </i>on Serum Biochemical Indices of Wistar Rats

Many cultures use various components of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> plant, such as the fruits, leaves, and seeds in their folk medicine. It is used in traditional medicine to treat ailments like diabetes, skin diseases, constipation, urinary problems, pain and inflammation brought on by a number of illnesses, jaundice and it is used as anthelmintic. Scientific studies have authenticated the veracity of some of the folkloric claims. Hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti- fungal, hypoglycaemic and anti-cancer qualities of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> extracts have been shown. All these point to the fact that<i> Luffa cylindrica</i> has been used medicinally for a long time, and its broad range of applications shows that it can be a useful therapeutic agent in both conventional and alternative medicine. The aim of the present study is to assess the effects of <i>Luffa cylindrica </i>leaf extract on hepatic function indices, renal function indices and serum lipid profile with the view of determining its level of safety when used as medicine. Acute toxicity study was done first to determine the possible range of toxicity for <i>Luffa cylindrica </i>leaf extract. Wistar rats were treated orally in biphasic manner with doses ranging from 10 mg/kg to 5000 mg/kg and were observed for 72 h for signs of toxicity or mortality. For the serum biochemistry evaluation, Wistar rats were grouped into 4, of five rats each. Rats in Group A were administered distilled water (10 ml/kg P.O) to serve as the negative control. Rats in groups B, C, D were respectively treated with the graded doses of the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg P.O). The treatment was done over a period of 28 days and blood samples were then collected for serum biochemical analysis The acute toxicity study showed no mortality or signs of toxicity, even at doses as high as 5000 mg/kg P.O, indicating that the oral median lethal dose (LD<sub>50</sub>) is greater than 5000 mg/kg. This suggests that the extract is relatively safe. In the serum biochemical study, the values for hepatic and renal function indices, as well as the lipid profile were majorly non-significantly different from the values of the negative control group. These possibly show that the integrity of the relevant organs was not tampered with and may suggest non-toxic nature of the <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> extract. However, the significant increase of creatinine value at the leaf extract dose of 400 mg/kg P.O requires closer attention. Further studies will evaluate the renal effect of leaf extract of <i>Luffa cylindrica </i>on creatinine using doses equal to or greater than 400 mg/kg P.O.