Biological evaluation of Egyptian eruca sativa seeds and leaves

ABSTRACT

A total of 12 Albino rats weighing 70 to 80 g. fed with basal diet and diet contained 279mg/100g body weight daily of Eruca sativa seeds and 2.08g/100g body weight daily of Eruca sativa leaves for a period of 4 weeks. The changes occurred in body weight [g] of rats were determined. After 4 weeks of the experiment, the average weight of the control group [fed on basal diet] increased by 76.8% of its original value [g], while the increase of second group of rats fed with Eruca sativa seeds was 106.2% of its original value [74g]. Moreover, the body weight of the third group of rats fed with Eruca sativa leaves was significantly increased by 137.2% of its original value [80g]. At the same time, the protein efficiency ratio [PER] increased from 1.47 [control] to 1.62 and 2.65 for the Eruca sativa seeds group and the Eruca sativa leaves group, respectively. In addition, the serum content of total cholesterol [TC] for control rats increased by 2 1.6% of its original value [102 mg/dl], while it decreased by 6.9% with the rats fed Eruca sativa seeds and increased by 16.76% with the rats fed with Eruca sativa leaves The serum content of total lipids [TL] of rats was increased by 7.7% of its original value [224mg/dl] for the control group and by 30% for the seed fed rats and 27.7% for the leaf fed rats. But the results were not statistically significant different. Simultaneously, the blood serum content of glucose was changed from 110.0 mg/dl [control] to 105.0 mg/dl and 121.0 mg/dl with the seed and leaf fed rats, respectively .Since the Eruca sativa plant had an inhibitory action against the factors which cause heart diseases and diabetes, it is recommended to include it in the human diet