The Bioscientist (Jun 2023)
Evaluation Of Vitamin Composition and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Peels
Abstract
Inadequate vitamins in humans can cause significant impairment in cellular and immune functions, as well as trigger inflammatory responses. Boosting immunity with vitamins helps in prevention and treatment of many diseases. There is a need to search for diets rich in vitamins which can boost immunity. This study explored vitamin composition and anti-inflammatory properties of cucumber peels using standard methods. The in-vitro anti-inflammatory effects were measured on the ability of the ethanol extract of cucumber peels to inhibit proteinase activities, albumin denaturation, and stabilize erythrocyte membrane, using blood samples from laboratory rat, while Aspirin and Diclophenac Sodium served as reference drugs. Vitamins found in cucumber peels were A (0.35 ± 0.03 mg/g), β-carotene (0.86±0.04mg/g), B₁ (1.14±0.38mg/g), B₂ (0.24±0.02mg/g), B₃ (0.71±0.03mg/g), B₆ (1.04±0.06mg/g), B₉ (0.66±0.01mg/g), C (1.58±0.01mg/g), D (1.11±0.01mg/g), E (0.54±0.01mg/g), and K (0.78±0.01mg/g). The extracts inhibited proteinase activity, albumin denaturation, and stabilization of erythrocyte membrane in a concentration-dependent manner, and recorded maximum activities of 19.14% anti-proteinase, 26.78% inhibition of albumin denaturation, 12.92% inhibition of heat-induced haemolysis, and 26.90% inhibition of hypotonicity-induced haemolysis at the highest concentration of 500µg/ml. These results indicated that cucumber peels are good sources of vitamins and possess anti-inflammatory properties.
