ABSTRACT

Telfairia occidentalis, commonly known as fluted pumpkin, is a plant widely utilized in traditional medicine and nutrition across West Africa. While extensive research has conducted on its leaves and seeds, the roots remain less explored. This study investigates the mineral composition and the impact of ethanol root extract of Telfairia occidentalis on the cardiac health of Wistar rats, as measured by the cardio-somatic index (CSI). The root samples were harvested fresh from its habitat dried and pulverized. The pulverized sample was screened for mineral analysis using  X- ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. A portion of the powdered sample was extracted using ethanol solvent with soxhlet extractor .while sub-acute toxicitywas conducted for fourteen days (14) with three extract dose (1mg/kg, 2mg/kg, 3mg/kg) to evaluate the cardio somatic index with the ethanol extract of the root in wistar rat. Potassium was detected as the highest mineral with 20.166%, while calcium indicated 12.941% with zinc being the lowest 0.078%. The heart weight was fairly constant but the cardio somatic index was lowest for the high dose (3mg/kg), of the extract administered .

This study shows that though the root of pumpkin had some macro nutrients, its effect on cardiac health pose a challenge.