Effect of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) Fruit Homogenate on Hypotonicity– induced Haemolysis of Red Blood Cell

Background: Several findings and reports show that people with high intake of Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) have relief in pains, swelling and other inflammatory signs. Human red blood cell membrane stabilization has been used as a method to investigate the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory drugs. The anti-inflammatory activity of cucumber has been demonstrated in previous study. In this study, we aimed at assessing the effect of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit homogenate on hypotonicity – induced haemolysis of red blood cell.

Methods: Whole fresh blood (3 ml) was collected from healthy volunteer into plastic tubes containing 0.1 volume of 3.8% trisodium citrate and used within 8 hr. The blood sample was centrifuged at 3000 x g for 10 min and the supernatant (plasma) discarded. The pellet was washed twice by resuspending in a volume of normal saline equal to the volume of the supernatant (plasma) and centrifuged at 3000 x g for 10 min. The pellet (0.1 ml) was resuspended in 2.5 ml of normal saline and used as the red blood cell (RBC).

Results: The results revealed that cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit homogenate significantly (p ˂ 0.05) inhibited hypotonicity-induced red blood cell haemolysis when compared to indomethacin (a known standard drug).

Conclusion: Cucumber has membrane stabilization effect on the red blood cell.