EVALUATION OF BIOACTIVITIES OF FRUIT JUICE OF WATER MELON (Citrullus lanatus) ON TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT STATUS AND RED BLOOD CELL INDICES IN RABBITS OVERDOSED WITH PANADOL EXTRA

Background: Watermelon juice is a common bevrages used as food supplement for refreshment in most cases to relief thirst. It contains health promoting phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals. Panadol extra is a common drug used to relief pains. These two materials are easily accessible to people and as such could be abused.

Aim and Objective: This work was designed to measure the effects of watermelon on Total Antioxidant Status, Red Blood Cell (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (HB), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Volume (MCV) and (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) in Rabbits Overdosed with Panadol extra.

Materials and Methods: Thirty rabbits of the same sex (male) weighting 0.9 to 1.3 Kg were obtained and classified into six groups of five rabbits each labeled A-F with subgroups as C1, C2, E1 and E2. Group A was grouped as control while B-F were experimental rabbits.15ml/Kg of watermelon juice was administered in the rabbits before and after administration of 1,500 mg/Kg of panadol extra. Watermelon juice was also administered to some rabbits without the administration of 1,500 mg/Kg of panadol extra. Blood values of RBC, PCV, HB, MCV, MCH and MCHC were determined in all the rabbits using haematology auto-analyzer and Total antioxidant was determined biochemically by spectrophotometry. Rabbits were given 1,500 mg/Kg of panadol extra for 5 days to induce toxicity.

Results: There was a significant increase in the value of RBC, HB, PCV, MCH, MCHC obtained in rabbits on normal meal and water(normal control) than in rabbits given 1,500 mg/Kg and left for 5 days on normal diet (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in the value of RBC, HB, PCV, MCV, MCH obtained in rabbits given with 1,500 mg/Kg of Panadol extra and thereafter given 15 ml/Kg of watermelon juice than in rabbits given 1,500 mg/Kg before watermelon juice (p<0.05). There was a There was significant decrease in the value of RBC, HB and a significant increase in the value MCH in rabbits given watermelon juice for 7 days and thereafter given 1,500 mg/Kg of panadol extra and left for 5 days (p<0.05). This work revealed a decrease in Total antioxidant, haemoglobin concentration, PCV, RBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC in rabbits given 1500 mg/Kg of Panadol extra which indicates that Panadol extra could cause oxidative stress, microcytic and hypochromic anaemia. These abnormalities were however reduced by watermelon juice upon administration.