Biotechnology and pharmacological evaluation of Indian vegetable crop Lagenaria siceraria: an overview

Phytochemical composition of Lagenaria siceraria fruits from KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, South Africa

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley is a food and medicinal source with anti-proliferative, anti-fertility, anti-HIV and anti-cancerous properties. The current study investigated the phytochemical constituents of L. siceraria fruits using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five isoprenoids present in all investigated landraces were 1-Dodecene, 2,3-Dimethyldodecane, E-15-Heptadecenal, Eicosane, and Tridecane, 6-propyl. Lighter metabolites such as 1-Dodecene and 2,3-Dimethyldodecane were recorded at a shorter retention time range of 9.08-16.29 min over a lower relative peak area ranging from 1.09 to 6.97%. However, heavier compounds (E-15-Heptadecenal, Eicosane and Tridecane, 6-propyl) had a longer retention time range of 13.42-18.00 mins over a higher relative peak area range of 2.25-11.41%. Cluster analysis grouped landraces into 5 clusters (I -V) according to their fruit and seed attributes, and isoprenoid units significant to each cluster. Terpenoids were the prominent phytochemicals present in fruits. This is the most comprehensive study on the fruit phytochemical constituents of different L. siceraria landraces to date.

Detection of typical indigenous gut bacteria related to kanpyo Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida powder in murine caecum and human faecal cultures

Kanpyo (KP) is an edible dried product produced by peeling the fruit of the gourd Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida; it is used in the traditional Japanese cuisine. The health functionality of KP due to its rich dietary fibre is expected to include a possible combined effect of KP-responsive indigenous gut bacteria (KP-RIB). However, its effect on the gut microbiota is unclear. To determine the effects of the KP on the gut microbiota and their host, Institute of Cancer Research mice were fed a high-sucrose diet containing no fibre (NF) or 5% (w/w) KP for 14 days, and their caecal microbiota was analysed by 16S rRNA (V4) amplicon sequencing. Higher faecal frequency and weight and lower spleen weight and spleen tumour necrosis factor-α levels were observed in KP-fed mice than in NF-fed mice (p < 0.05). KP increased and decreased the abundance of short-chain fatty acid producer Lachnospiraceae and obesity-inflammation related Allobaculum species, respectively. In the case of human faecal cultures, stool samples from five healthy volunteers were inoculated and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h anaerobically; 3.2% (w/v) KP suppressed putrefactive compounds (indole, phenol, and ammonia). KP increased butyrate-producer Faecalibacterium, acetate/lactate-producer Bifidobacterium, and Lachnospira. Furthermore, KP cultures showed high antioxidant and RAW264.7 macrophage cell activation capacities. These results suggest that KP-RIB and KP intake may synergistically affect host health. However, further studies are required to clarify the synergistic effects of KP and KP-RIB.

Utilization of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.) pomace for the preparation of instant kheer (dessert) mix

Bottle gourd pomace, a waste from vegetable processing industry was used to prepare instant kheer (dessert) mix. In this study, the bottle gourd was procured from the farm, washed, grated, steam blanched and the grits were further divided into two parts. One part of grits was dried without juice extraction (BGFD- Bottle gourd fresh dried), while, the other half (BGPD- Bottle gourd pomace dried) was dehydrated after extraction of juice. The dehydrated grits were used for the preparation of kheer mix and the recipe was optimized using RSM Central Composite Design (CCD). The variables were BGFD and BGPD ranged 3-7 g. The other ingredients with the fixed quantities were milk powder (50 g), sugar (15 g), and small cardamom (1 g). The product was selected based on sensory responses like taste, colour, flavour, texture, and overall acceptability (OAA). The software suggested a kheer mix prepared using 7 g BGFD and 3 g BGPD will produce the best sensory scores. The prepared kheer mix had a moisture, TSS, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, total sugars, titratable acidity, crude protein, and crude fat content of 7.9%, 27 °B, 72.21%, 10.79%, 16.75%, 0.896% CA, 10.76%, and 7.63%, respectively. The product was rich in energy (400.55 kcal/100 g), total phenols (4.99 mg/100 g), and exhibited strong antioxidant activity (46%). The total plate count on the product on nutrient agar medium was 4.3 × 106 CFU/g. The kheer could be prepared by adding 140 mL of water to 70 g of water to kheer mix and cooking it for 10 min. Further, to see the credibility and obtain more clearer patterns, the Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were applied. The overall variation of the BGFD and BGPD on the sensory parameters based on canonical correlation analysis was 92.5%. The sum of Principal Components PC1 and PC2 explained a very high variability (98.2%) among the studied treatments.

Lagenaria siceraria fruit: A review of its phytochemistry, pharmacology, and promising traditional uses

Since ancient times, the Cucurbitaceae family is used as a therapeutic option in human medicine. This family has around 130 genera and 800 species. Researchers have studied the various plants of this family including Lagenaria siceraria due to their medicinal potential. Various properties are beneficial for human health, that have been attributed to L. siceraria like antioxidant, hypolipidemic, diuretic, laxative, hepatoprotective, analgesic, antihypertensive, cardioprotective, central nervous system stimulant, anthelmintic, free radical scavenging, immunosuppressive, and adaptogenic. The fruit of this plant is commonly used as a vegetable that has a low-calorie value. The species possess a diverse set of biological compounds like flavonoids, sterols, saponins, and terpenoids. Vitamins, choline, flavonoids, minerals, proteins, terpenoids, and other phytochemicals are also found in the edible parts of this plant. Besides 17 different amino acids, many minerals are reported to be present in the seeds of L. siceraria. According to the USDA nutritional database per 100 g of L. siceraria contains 14 Kcal energy, 3.39 g carbohydrates, 0.62 g protein, 0.2 g fat, and 0.5 g fiber. L. siceraria performs a wide range of pharmacological and physiological actions. The literature reviewed from various sources including PubMed, Science Direct, Google scholar, etc. shows the remarkable potential to treat various human and animal illnesses due to its' potent bioactive chemicals. The key objective of this thorough analysis is to present a summary of the data about the beneficial and harmful effects of L. siceraria intake on human health, as well as in veterinary fields.

Growth Performance, Immune Response, Antioxidative Status, and Antiparasitic and Antibacterial Capacity of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) After Dietary Supplementation With Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria, Molina) Seed Powder

Medicinal plants are a potential safe source of bioactive compounds. Fish diet supplemented with the medicinal plant bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) seed powder was evaluated in this study for the potential effect on growth performance, antioxidative status, immunological response, and resistance to infectious pathogens in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Nile tilapia fingerlings with mean weight ( ± SD)= (25.64 ± 0.17 g), were fed four L. siceraria seed supplemented diets (LSSD) at 0.0, 1, 2, and 3% for 60 days. Specimens were then challenged with the bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila for 10 days. Also, three different concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 ml/L) of Lagenaria siceraria ethanolic extract (LSEE) were tested for their antibacterial and antiparasitic efficacy on four selected bacterial and one parasitic species. All parameters’ values generally improved with elevating the content of the L. siceraria seed powder in the diet. Dietary administration of LSSD-3% enabled significant (P &lt; 0.05) higher growth performance, and feed utilization efficiency. It reduced the mortality induced by A. hydrophila infection, increased crude protein content in the fish body and exhibited the highest in vitro antibacterial and antiparasitic efficiency. RBCs, WBCs, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, and total serum protein values in pre- and post-challenge groups were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in the LSSD-3% group. While MCHC, ALT, AST and glucose levels were significantly lower (P &lt; 0.05) than those of the other groups. Lysozyme and antioxidant enzyme activities in pre- and post-challenge groups were also higher (P &lt; 0.05) in the LSSD-3% group compared to the other groups. LSEE provided good efficacy against Gram-negative bacterial strains, mild efficacy against Gram-positive bacterial strains, and an antagonistic effect on the parasite Cichlidogyrus Tilapiae. The 10 ml/L concentration was the most effective against the pathogens followed by the 5 ml/L concentration and then 2.5 ml/L. Our findings suggest the feasibility of supplementation of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) diet with L. siceraria seed powder by 3% to improve the growth performance, immunity, and vital parameters.

Comparison of medicinal preparations of Ayurveda in India and five traditional medicines in China

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ayurveda is the main traditional healthcare system in Indian medicine. Tibetan medicine (TM), Mongolian medicine (MM), Buddhist medicine (BM), Dai medicine (DM), and Uyghur medicine (UM) are main traditional medicines practiced in China. These are existing traditional medical systems that still play a role in disease prevention and treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To reveal the similarities and differences of traditional medicinal preparations between Ayurveda in India and five traditional medicines in China to deepen medical exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and beyond.

METHODS

All preparations were extracted from statutory pharmacopoeias, ministry standards, and prescription textbooks from China and India. The information of each preparation, such as therapeutic uses, medicinal materials, and preparation forms, was recorded in Excel for statistical analysis and visual comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 645 Ayurvedic preparations, 458 TM preparations, 164 MM preparations, 616 BM preparations, 227 DM preparations, and 94 UM preparations were identified. Preparations of the six traditional medicines were mostly used for treating digestive, respiratory, and urogenital system diseases. The preparation forms of these six traditional medicines are mainly pills and powders. There are 38 shared-use medicinal materials in Ayurveda and TM preparations, 25 in Ayurveda and MM preparations, 30 in Ayurveda and BM preparations, 39 in Ayurveda and DM preparations, and 31 in Ayurveda and UM preparations. Finally, we selected one important shared-use preparation (Triphala) and 51 medicinal materials to research traditional use and modern pharmacology.

CONCLUSIONS

These preparations are used by different prescribers and users of medicinal materials in different medical systems with the similarities and differences. The similarities may reflect the historical exchanges of traditional medicines between the two countries. The differences showed that traditional medicines in China have absorbed some theories, diagnoses, and treatments from Ayurveda but also retained their own ethnic and regional characteristics.

Elimination of rhodamine B from textile wastewater using nanoparticle photocatalysts: A review for sustainable approaches

Rhodamine B (RhB) dye used in the textile industries is associated with carcinogenic and neurotoxic effects with a high potential to cause a variety of human diseases. Semiconductor photocatalysts synthesised through agriculture waste extracts exhibited high efficiency for RhB removal. The current review aimed to explore the efficiency and mechanism of RhB degradation using different photocatalysts that have been used in recent years, as well as the effect of various factors on the removal process. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesised from plant extract is the most effective for the RhB degradation with the efficiency reaching 100% after 210 min. The photocatalysis process depends on the pH because pH changes the balance of water dissociation, which impacts the formation of hydroxyl radicals and the surface load of the catalyst. Analysis using Jupyter Notebook revealed a strong correlation between the concentration of ZnO NPs and the photocatalysis efficiency (R = 0.72). These findings reveal that man-sized photocatalysts have a high potential for removing RhB from the wastewater.

Enhancing malaria control using Lagenaria siceraria and its mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles against the vector Anopheles stephensi and its parasite Plasmodium falciparum

In many developing countries, there are certain health problems faced by the public, one among them is Malaria. This tropical disease is mainly caused by Plasmodium falciparum. It is categorized as a disaster to public health, which increases both mortality and morbidity. Numerous drugs are in practice to control this disease and their vectors. Eco-friendly control tools are required to battle against vector of this significant disease. Nanotechnology plays a major role in fighting against malaria. The present paper synthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using zinc nitrate via simple green routes with the help of aqueous peel extract of Lagenaria siceraria (L. siceraria). The synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by various biophysical methods. Moreover, the extract of L. siceraria and their mediated ZnO NPs was experimented against III instar larvae of An. stephensi. The impact of the treatment based on ZnO NPs concerning histology and morphology of mosquito larval was further observed. In the normal laboratory environment, the efficiency of predation of Poeciliareticulata (P. reticulata) against An. Stephensi larvae was found to be 44%, whereas in aqueous L. siceraria extract and its mediated ZnO NPs contaminated environment, P. reticulate showed predation efficiency of about 45.8% and 61.13% against An. Stephensi larva. L. siceraria synthesized ZnO NPs were examined against the Plasmodium falciparum CQ-sensitive strains. The L. siceraria extract and its mediated ZnO NPs showed the cytotoxic effects against HeLa cell lines with an IC₅₀ value of 62.5 µg/mL. This study concludes that L. siceraria peel extract and L. siceraria synthesized ZnO NPs represent a valuable green option to fight against malarial vectors and parasites.

Enhancing ZnO-NP Antibacterial and Osteogenesis Properties in Orthopedic Applications: A Review

Prosthesis-associated infections and aseptic loosening are major causes of implant failure. There is an urgent need to improve the antibacterial ability and osseointegration of orthopedic implants. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are a common type of zinc-containing metal oxide nanoparticles that have been widely studied in many fields, such as food packaging, pollution treatment, and biomedicine. The ZnO-NPs have low toxicity and good biological functions, as well as antibacterial, anticancer, and osteogenic capabilities. Furthermore, ZnO-NPs can be easily obtained through various methods. Among them, green preparation methods can improve the bioactivity of ZnO-NPs and strengthen their potential application in the biological field. This review discusses the antibacterial abilities of ZnO-NPs, including mechanisms and influencing factors. The toxicity and shortcomings of anticancer applications are summarized. Furthermore, osteogenic mechanisms and synergy with other materials are introduced. Green preparation methods are also briefly reviewed.

Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Bottle Gourd Accessions Differing in Fruit Size

The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is an important horticultural and medicinal crop with high nutritional value. This study aimed at examining the molecular regulation of fruit size in bottle gourd. We performed transcriptome sequencing of two bottle gourd cultivars differing in their fruit size. The average fruit length and weight of the cultivar Hang (39.48 cm/624.4 g) were higher than those of the cultivar USA (10.34 cm/152.8 g) at maturity. Transcriptome sequencing and assembly resulted in 89,347 unigenes. A total of 1250 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were found between the two cultivars, including 422 upregulated genes and 828 downregulated genes in Hang as compared to USA. Genes related to cell wall metabolism, phytohormones, cell cycle, and cell division showed significant differential expression between the two cultivars. DEGs encoding transcription factors (TF) from nine TF families were also identified. The ethylene response factor family was the most enriched among these families. Our study provides a basis for further investigations of the molecular regulation of fruit size in bottle gourd.

Lagenaria siceraria - synthesised ZnO NPs - a valuable green route to control the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi

Malaria is a dangerous disease affecting humans and animals in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. According to recent estimates, 3.2 billion people are at risk of malaria. Many drugs are in practices to control this disease and their vectors. Eco-friendly control tools are needed to fight vectors of this important disease. Nanotechnology is playing a key role in the fight against many public health emergencies. In the present study, Lagenaria siceraria aqueous peel extract was used to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), then tested on Anopheles stephensi eggs, larvae and pupae. The L. siceraria-synthesised ZnO NPs were characterized additionally by FTIR, AFM, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy, EDX, and SEM spectroscopy The ovicidal, larvicidal, pupicidal and repellent activities of L. siceraria and green-synthesised ZnO NPs were analysed on A. stephensi. The potential mechanism of action of ZnO NPs was studied investigating the changes in various enzyme activities in A. stephensi IV instar larvae. Furthermore, the smoke toxicity of L. siceraria-based cones against A. stephensi evoked higher mortality if compared with the control. Overall, the present study concluded that L. siceraria peel extract and its mediated green synthesised ZnO NPs represent a valuable green option to manage against malaria vectors.

A Review on Green Synthesis, Biomedical Applications, and Toxicity Studies of ZnO NPs

The advance of reliable and eco-friendly strategies for the development of nanoparticles is a fundamental key to the discipline of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles have been continuously evaluated and have been used in many industrial applications for a decade. In particular, the role of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) has received a great interest because of various properties such as UV filter properties and photochemical, antifungal, high catalyst, and antimicrobial activities. Because of the high rate of poisonous chemicals and the extreme surroundings used within the chemical and physical methods, the green techniques have been adopted using plants, fungi, bacteria, and algae for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Therefore, this paper considers various green synthesis methods to provide the evidence of ZnO NP role to several applications, and in addition, biomedical applications and toxic effect were reviewed. Therefore, the paper used various secondary sources to collect the relevant review articles. From the findings, the green route of synthesis is rather safe and eco-friendly when compared to physical and chemical means of synthesis. On the other hand, its biomedical applications in this sector are increased day by day in various processes including bioimaging, drug delivery, biosensors, and gene delivery. With respect to its toxicity properties, ZnO NPs can act as smart weapons against multiple drug-resistant microorganisms and as a talented substitute for antibiotics.

Evaluation of the Sleep-Prolonging Effect of Lagenaria vulgaris and Cucurbita pepo Extracts on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep and Possible Mechanisms of Action

Introduction: Sleeplessness is the most common sleep disorder. In this study, the hypnotic effect of macerated (HAME) and soxhlet (HASE) extract of Lagenaria vulgaris (fruit and seed) and Cucurbita pepo (fruit) were studied in mice. Methods: Extracts and fractions were administered intra-peritoneally (i.p.) in mice 30 min before the sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, i.p.). Moreover, the influence of flumazenil or naloxone on the hypnotic effects of the extract and its toxic effects were evaluated. Results: The HAME and HASE of C. pepo prolonged the pentobarbital-induced sleep duration at dose of 200 mg/kg. The HAME of L. vulgaris (fruit) at dose of 200 mg/kg increased the sleeping time. The HAME and HASE of L. vulgaris (seed) increased sleep duration at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Besides, flumazenil (2 mg/kg) reversed the effects of both diazepam (P < 0.001 vs. diazepam group), 200 mg/kg of HAME of C. pepo and 50 mg/kg of HAME and HASE of L. vulgaris (seed). All fractions especially ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of L. vulgaris (seed) increased the sleep duration. Naloxone reversed the hypnotic effect of HAME and HASE of L. vulgaris (seed). The extracts showed no neurotoxic effects on PC12 and L929 cell lines. Conclusion: The results showed that L. vulgaris (seed and fruit) and C. pepo potentiated pentobarbital hypnosis without toxic influence. The hypnotic effects of L. vulgaris seed was greater than its fruit and C. pepo. The GABA and opioid receptors may play role in the sleep-induction of L. vulgaris seed.