Abstract
The atherogenicity of Cucumeropsis mannii and Cucumis sativus oils was compared to that of corn oil
and palm oil. Female wistar albino rats of 6 weeks old weighing 58 – 65 g were randomly assigned to
one of four diet groups: C. mannii and C. sativus oils (test diets) and corn and palm oil (control diets).
There was weight gain in all the groups amounting to 128.65% (palm oil), 132.75% (C. mannii), 140.8%
(C. sativus) and 153.45 (corn oil) with no significant difference. The weights of the livers ranged from
4.22 (palm oil) to 5.17 g (corn oil), ratio of weights of liver to that of rat, from 0.029 - 0.034 and
percentage weight gain from 128.65 (palm oil) to 153.45% (corn oil). There was no significant difference
in the values. For the atherogenic parameters measured, the triglyceride level ranged from 73 (palm oil)
to 79.4 (C. sativus oil) with no significant difference. Total cholesterol levels ranged from 49.6 (corn oil)
to 64.2 mg/dl (C. sativus oil) with significantly lower values in the corn oil group but similar values in
the rest of the groups. HDL ranged from 18.94 (C. mannii oil) to 32.8 (palm oil) which was significantly
high, LDL from 6.2 (palm oil) to 25.06 mg/dl (C. mannii oil) and atherogenic ratio (AR) from 0.2 (palm oil)
to 1.61 (C. mannii) which was significantly high. The levels of these atherogenic parameters are far
below the borderline level for oils to cause atherosclerosis, indicating that they could be potential good
edible oils for reducing cardiovascular illnesses.
Keywords: Atherogenicity, oils, Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucumis sativus.
