The Effect Of Cucumber (<i>Cucumbis Savitus</i>) Extract On Acid Induced Corneal Burn In Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Cucumber is the edible fruit of the cucumber plant, Cucumis Sativus. Cucumber is used for skin treatment and natural beautification. It is called a cool fruit which effect is believed to bring relief to the eyes in summer. Thirty six guinea pigs between ages 17-20weeks and weight 0.4-0.7kg had their cornea induced with acid burn wound using 0.1M of hydrochloric acid. The animals were then divided intof our groups of 9 animals. The groups were CB group treated with cucumber bark extract only, CP group treated with cucumber pulp extract only, CB+CP group treated with cucumber bark and pulp extract and the control group that received no treatment. Stock extracts were used in the three groups; no dilution of any kind was employed. The regimen used was 2 drops of their drug, 3 times daily till healing occured The acid wounds were stained with flourescein and the size measured with PD rule before commencement of the treatment on the first day of the experiment and daily till the wound healed. At the endof the study, the CB+CPgrouphad the shortest healingperiod (17days withhealing rate of 0.92mm ), followed by CB group (19days with healing rate of 0.90mm ), the CPgroup (26 days with healing rate of 0.80mm ) and lastly the control group (30days with healing rate of 0.70mm ). Statistical analysis using students to T-test (two-tailed) showed that the rates of healing between the treated groups and the control groupwerestatisticallysignificant (P>0.05).Cucumber extract when pharmacologically refined could be incorporated in first aid treatment of corneal acidburn.