EFFECT OF Cucurbita Pepo ON PROTHROMBIN TIME AND PLATELET COUNT IN HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIC ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Agbai E.O¹ and Nwanegwo C.O¹

¹Department of Human Physiology,

Madonna University Elele, Rivers State Nigeria.

²Department of Human Physiology

College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

We studied the effect of methanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo seed and shell on prothrombin time and platelet count in heparin-induce thrombocytopenia in twenty albino wistar rats and in four control rats. After administration of extract of Cucurbita pepo seed, results showed a statistically significant difference in PT of Group A (38.25 ± 4.97 s) compared to CONT (34.0 ± 7.29 s), Group B (32.75 ± 4.55 s), and Group C (36.50 ± 3.01 s) at P < 0.05. There was statistically significant difference in PC between Group A (31.25 ± 5.10 x 10⁹/L) compared to CONT (159.0 ± 4.21 x 10⁹/L), group B (141.75 ± 4.13 x 10⁹/L) and Group C (154.75 ± 3.43 x 10⁹/L) at P < 0.05. The result of extract of Cucurbita pepo shell showed a statistically significant difference in PT of CONT (34.0 ± 7.29 s) compared to Group A (38.25 ± 4.97 s) compared to Group B (32.75 ± 4.55 s), Group C (39.00 ± 4.08 s) and Group D (46.50 ± 5.07) at P < 0.05. There was also statistically significant increase in Group D (46.50 ± 5.07) at P < 0.05 compared to Group B and C respectively.   Results showed statistically significant difference in platelet count (PC) between CONT (159.0 ± 4.21 x 10⁹/L) compared with Group B, C and D respectively at P > 0.05, (31.25 ± 5.10 x 10⁹/L, 66.50 ± 8.59 x 10⁹/L and 75.75 ± 13.55 x 10⁹/L). These results suggest that methanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo seed shortens the PT after prolonged by heparin and increased PC after heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, whereas the extract of cucurbita pepo seed did not have any positive effect on PT and PC.