The Effect of Giving Red-fleshed Watermelon Juice (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)) on Pregnant White Mice (Mus Musculus) Exposed by Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Orally on the Number and Morphology of Fetus

Introduction: Infertility can occur due to the presence of free radicals. One of the most popular of free radical is monosodium glutamate. Free radicals from monosodium glutamate can be prevented by antioxidant compounds. Red-fleshed-fleshed watermelon is a fruit that contains antioxidant compound such as lycopene. Aim: This research was conducted to see the effect of red-fleshed-fleshed watermelon juice on the fetus including number, morphology, visual abnormalities and body weight of pregnant white mice exposed to monosodium glutamate solution orally. Total of 25 female white mice aged around 2-3 months were used as test animals. Methods: Pregnant white mice were divided into 5 test groups. Group I and II served as negative controls (whithout treatment) and positive controls (exposed to monosodium glutamate solution orally at dose of 1g/kgBW). Group III was given a solution of monosodium glutamate orally at dose of 1 g/KgBW added red-fleshed-fleshed watermelon juice at dose of 1.4 g/kgBW. Group IV was given solution of monosodium glutamate orally at dose of 1 g/KgBW added red-fleshed-fleshed watermelon juice at dose of 4.2 g/kgBW. The research data were processed using the one-way ANNOVA test. Results: The result showed that mice body weight, fetal number and morphology (body weight, body length, tail length, and head diameter) did not significantly influence (p>0.05). However, it significantly affected the weight gain of mice during pregnancy. However, it significantly affected the weight gain of mice during pregnancy day 6 to day 17 of pregnancy (p<0.05) and found abnormalities in the fetus such as low birth weight (LBW) and haemorrhage in group II and III. Conclusion: It can be concluded that watermelon juice at dose of 2.8 g/kgBW and 4.2 g/kgBW are effective in ward offfree radicals from monosodium glutamate orally at dose of 1 g/kgBW.