Abstract
Hypertension has become the most prevalent issue in Pakistan that has targeted 18% adults below 45 years of age and 33% of
above 45 years. Watermelon seeds possess adequate quantity of cations (e.g. K+, Mg+
and Ca+2) and phytochemicals (e.g.
alkaloids, saponins, polyphenol and flavonoids) which exert potent antihypertensive effects due to their vasodilatory,
antioxidant and anti-angiotensin converting enzyme activities. Present study was conducted to analyze the proximate
composition, cations and phytochemical screening of watermelon seeds and their effect on hypertensive as well as normal men
and women. The efficacy study was open labeled, single-arm and consisted of 40 days with one week of wash out. Male (n=16)
and Female (n=16) of age 30-60years were divided into two groups; hypertensive (group-A) and normal (group-B). Each group
was administered with 50g of watermelon seeds per day. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured at different time
interval. Overall, watermelon seeds show appreciable amount of Protein (34.73±0.15%), Fat (32.04±0.52%), Carbohydrate
(21.20±0.97%).Whereas, cations including magnesium was found as 531±1mg/100g, Potassium is in the range of
743±1mg/100g. Whereas, level of Calcium is 134±0.93mg/100g. Phytochemicals including total phenols (553.93±1.10mg
GAE/100g), Total flavonoids (386.12±1.09mgCE/100g), Saponins (0.83±0.09%) and Alkaloids (3.41±0.15%) was found to
be in high amount. Moreover, significant decrease (p<0.001) in systolic i.e. 13-16mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of
hypertensive patients i.e. 8-10mmHg was observed. Thus, study reveals effective usage of watermelon seeds for treatment of
hypertensive patients due to presence of high amount of phytochemicals as well as cations.
hangoul Sajjad, Beenish Israr, Farwa Ali, Imran Pasha. (2020) INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF PHYTOCHEMICALS RICH WATERMELON SEEDS AGAINST HYPERTENSION, Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume 57, Issue 4.
-
Views
432 -
Downloads
73
Article Details
Volume
Issue
Type
Language
