Protective effects of nutrients and antioxidant-rich seed oil and sprouted seed oil of Benincasa hispida against formaldehyde-induced hepatic and renal damage

•Benincasa hispida seed oil and sprouted seed oil considerably decrease the chance of formaldehyde-induced liver and kidney damage.•Compared to seed oil, wax gourd sprouted seed oil has superior antioxidant properties.•Micronutrients associated with the antioxidant enzyme system are present in Benincasa hispida seed oil and sprouted seed oil.•Sprouted seed oil contains a higher percentage of crude fat, but seed oil contains higher total carbohydrates.•Serum ALT, AST, and creatinine levels are elevated by formaldehyde exposure in mice. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Benincasa hispida, commonly referred to as wax gourd, winter melon, or ash gourd, has been used extensively for managing fever, urinary dysfunction, cough with viscous mucus, pulmonary and periappendicular abscesses, edema, spermatorrhea, gonorrhea, discharge pus, and expel dampness. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant, macro- and micronutrients as well as the protective effects of Benincasa hispida seed oil (BHSO) and sprouted seed oil (BHSSO) against formaldehyde (FA)-induced liver and kidney damage in mice. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Protein, fat, fiber, and total carbohydrate contents were assessed, and micronutrients were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. BHSO, BHSSO, and Vitamin E (3485 mg/kg, 3485 mg/kg, and 30 mg/kg p.o., respectively) were administered once daily shortly after formaldehyde exposure (10 mg/kg, I.P.) to separate groups of Swiss albino male mice for a period of 26 days to investigate their protective effects against hepatic and renal damage. The normal control group was given access to sterile tap water and a balanced diet, whereas the disease control group was given only 10 mg/kg of formaldehyde intraperitoneally. Serum ALT, AST, and creatinine levels were significantly elevated after formaldehyde (FA) administration. Histopathological examinations of liver and kidney tissue revealed degenerative changes in both organs. However, mice pretreated with BHSO and BHSSO showed a significant reduction in FA-induced elevations of serum ALT, AST, and creatinine levels and retained normal liver and kidney tissue histology. BHSO and BHSSO exhibited the ability to scavenge free radicals, as shown in vitro antioxidant studies. Essential micronutrients like zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), and chromium (Cr) were also found in both oils. These micronutrients may prevent the in