Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 induced lung cyto-morphological damage in rats.

The protective efficacy of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) fruit aqueous extract against either aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity and Aspergillus flavus fungus infection induced lung histolomorphological damage in rats was investigated. AFB1 and A. flavus were administered intraperitoneally (0.2mg/Kg body weight) for 15 successive days. The result demonstrated that intoxication of rats with AFB1 induced lung damage as observed by alveolar hyperplasia, pulmonary hemorrhage and fibrosis. Infection with A. flavus also showed damaging impact on the rat lung as observed by fibrosis of bronchioles and alveolar hyperplasia. Oral co-administration of aqueous extract of pumpkin fruits (1.0 mg / kg of body weight) to either rat groups intoxicated with AFB1 or infected with A. flavus for 20 consecutive days showed more or less normal histological structure of rat lungs. In conclusion, aqueous extract of pumpkin fruits has a protective role against AFB1 or A. flavus induced lung damage which may be related to the antioxidant constituents of the plant extract.