Soil Amendment and Storage Effect the Quality of Winter Melons (Benincasa hispida (Thunb) Cogn.) and Their Juice

Winter melon fruits were grown in the field using anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) and conventional fertilizer alone as the control treatment. Fruits were harvested and stored at 20 °C for 120 d, the juice was processed on day one and day 120, and the effects of soil amendment and 120 d storage on the juice's physical and chemical (sugars, acids, volatile and nutritional compounds) properties were evaluated. Fruit juice extracted from ASD-grown fruit had greater magnitude of zeta potential than the control juice, indicating it was physically more stable than the juice obtained from the control conditions. ASD fruit juice had lower soluble solids content (SSC), and lower volatile compounds that contribute green, grass, and sulfur notes, and negatively influence flavor quality. ASD fruit juice had higher vitamin B5 and cytidine. Juice processed from 120 d stored fruit had less yield due to 12.4-15.6% weight loss. The non-soluble solids content was higher and particle size was larger, and the SSC and individual sugars decreased. However, titratable acidity (TA) increased primarily due to increased citric acid. Out of 16 free amino acids, 6 increased and only 1 decreased. However, three out of five nucleosides decreased; vitamins B1 and B6 increased; vitamins B2, B3 and C decreased. Overall, juice derived from fruit produced using ASD was physically more stable and had less SSC and off-odor volatiles than the control, while the fruit juice of those stored for 120 d had lower SSC and higher TA and nutritional profiles, comparable to freshly harvested fruit.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of the Consumption of Powdered Concentrate of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum in Mexican Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has a high prevalence in older adults and is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and complications of old age. It has also been related to oxidative stress (OxS) and chronic inflammation (CI) and their consequent alterations. Therefore, it is important to propose therapeutic alternatives such as the consumption of Sechium edule (Chayote), since hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and lipogenesis inhibitor properties are attributed to it. We carried out a study in 81 older adults (OA) with MetS to determine the effect of consumption of chayote powder concentrate (500 mg, three times a day) for six months, with a baseline measurement, at three and six months in an experimental group (EG) (n = 41) and a placebo group (PG) (n = 40), all with a diagnosis of MetS according to the criteria of National Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Program III (NCEP/ATP III). Anthropometric, biochemical, OxS markers, and inflammation measurements were performed on all participants, basal, three, and six months after. A statistically significant decrease was found in the concentration of lipoperoxides (TBARS), 8-isoprostanes, 8-OHdG, oxidative stress score (OSS), HbA1c, blood pressure, and in the number of MetS diagnostic criteria, as well as an increase in total antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant gap (GAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and HDL-cholesterol in EG. The results suggest that the consumption of Sechium edule powder has a hypotensive, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effect in OA with MetS and reduced the percentage of patients with MetS.

Effect of Administration of CHAGURO Made of Chayote (Sechium edule) and Tuna (Thunnus sp.) on Rats Induced with Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide and a High-Fat Diet

This study was conducted to develop Chaguro, a low-cost supplementary food made of chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz) and tuna fish (Thunnus sp.), for diabetes and dyslipidemia diet therapy. In order to find a formula with effective hypoglycaemic and antidyslipidemic properties, dried tuna and chayote were mixed at different ratios: F1 (75% tuna, 25% chayote), F2 (50% tuna, 50% chayote), and F3 (25% tuna, 75% chayote). Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned into healthy control group or groups induced with streptozotocin-nicotinamide and a high-fat diet. Chaguro was administered 2.7 g/ kgBW/ day using a gavage for 28 days. The administration of all Chaguro formulas improved blood markers compared to the negative control group (p < 0.001). Chaguro F2 lowered fasting blood glucose (97.07±1.18 vs 266.31±5.31), total cholesterol (113.59±2.22 vs 208.78±4.31), triglycerides (89.93±2.51 vs 142.35±2.83), LDL-c (33.87±1.87 vs 87.85±3.34) and increased HDL-c (69,08±1,85 vs 23,91±1,64) level the most compared to the negative control group (p < 0.001). Streptozotocin-induced weight loss was also prevented in all diabetic rats fed with Chaguro, with the bodyweight being similar to that of healthy controls at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001). This study found that Chaguro may be a potential food product to help lower blood glucose and improve lipid profile in diabetes and dyslipidemia.

Effect of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (Chayote) on Telomerase Levels and Antioxidant Capacity in Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome

Patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) have a redox imbalance, due to a decay in antioxidant capacity. Oxidative stress (OxS) is considered an important modulator of telomere shortening and telomerase activity. One of the fruits that has been associated with an antioxidant effect is Sechium edule and although its properties are well established, there is only one exploratory study evaluating its effectiveness in patients with MetS. The present investigation is a much more robust and controlled study, including a placebo group. Hence, we determined the effect of consumption of the dried fruit powder (500 mg, three times per day) for three months. We measured effects on telomerase levels, antioxidant capacity, and markers for OxS. The study was performed in a sample of 75 older adults: placebo group (n = 30) and experimental group (n = 45) with the diagnosis of MetS according to the National Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Program III (NCEP/ATP III) criteria. All markers were measured before and after three months of treatment. There was a statistically significant decrease in lipoperoxides and protein carbonylation with an increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as sustained levels of telomerase in patients who consumed Sechium edule. Our findings suggest that consumption of this fruit has a hypoglycemic, hypotensive, and antioxidant effect, without altering telomerase levels, which could suggest better protection against telomere shortening.

Effect of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (Chayote) on Oxidative Stress and Pro-Inflammatory Markers in Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: An Exploratory Study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for cognitive deterioration and frailty in older adults. In this regard it has been shown that oxidative stress (OxS) and chronic inflammation are involved in the pathophysiology of these alterations. Harmless antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapeutic alternatives have been proposed, such as the consumption of Sechium edule (chayote), but the evidence is inconclusive. For this reason, an exploratory study of a single group chosen by convenience sampling, including 12 older adults, with an average age of 71 ± 6 years (10 women and 2 men) with a diagnosis of MetS according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) criteria. This exploratory study aimed to determine the effect of the consumption of the dried fruit powder supplement of Sechium edule var. nigrum spinosum (500 mg, 3 times per day) for six weeks on the markers of OxS in elderly adults with MetS. All participants' OxS markers were measured before and after treatment. There was a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of lipoperoxides (baseline, 0.289 ± 0.04 vs. post-treatment, 0.234 ± 0.06 μmol/L, p < 0.05), together with a significant increase in total antioxidant status (baseline, 0.97 ± 0.18 vs. post-treatment, 1.2 ± 0.12 mmol/L, p < 0.05). In this sense, the oxidative stress index showed a statistically significant decrease (baseline, 1.7 ± 0.78 vs. post-treatment, 0.75 ± 0.87, p < 0.05). A statistically significant decrease in the concentration of TNF-α after treatment was also found (baseline, 5.3 ± 1.4 vs. post-treatment, 3.5 ± 1.3, p < 0.05).Our findings suggest that the consumption of the dry fruit of Sechium edule has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in older adults with metabolic syndrome.

Anti-hyperglycemic and genotoxic studies of 1-O-methyl chrysophanol, a new anthraquinone isolated from Amycolatopsis thermoflava strain SFMA-103

The compound 1-O-methyl chrysophanol (OMC) which belongs to a class of hydroxyanthraquinones was isolated from Amycolatopsis thermoflava strain SFMA-103 and studied for their anti-diabetic properties. OMC was evaluated as an anti-diabetic agent based on in silico studies which initially predicted the binding energy with α-amylase (-188.81 KJ mol^-1) and with α-glucosidase (70.53 KJ mol^-1). Further, these results were validated based on enzyme inhibition assays where OMC demonstrated enzyme inhibitory activity towards α-amylase (IC₅₀ 3.4 mg mL^-1) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ 38.49 μg mL^-1). To confirm the anti-diabetic activity, in vivo studies (oral dose in Wistar rats) revealed that OMC inhibited significantly the increase in glucose concentration at 100 mg/kg as compared to starch control (p < 0.05). Further, to understand the safety of OMC as a therapeutic agent, the genotoxic analysis was performed in both in vitro Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (250, 500, and 1000 µM/mL) and in vivo Swiss albino mice (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). In vitro results showed that OMC concentration of up to 250 µM/mL did not elicit significant changes in CAs, MI, and MN counts in CHO cells. Similarly, in mice experiments (i.p. injection), no significant changes in CAs, MI, and MN induction were observed till 500 mg/kg of OMC when compared with chrysophanic acid (Cy) (200 mg/kg). In addition, mice that received the lowest dose of OMC (250 mg/kg) did not show any histological changes in liver, kidney, and heart. The study concluded that five times higher therapeutic dose (100 mg/kg) of OMC can be utilized against hyperglycemia with no genotoxic effects.

Genetic characterization of chayote [Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz.] landraces of North Eastern Hills of India and conservation measure

Chayote or chow-chow is an underutilized cucurbit vegetable crop, widely cultivated by farmers in the backyards and Jhum lands for its tender leaves, fruits and tuberous root. In order to initiate crop improvement program in this crop, the present study was undertaken to assess the genetic variations in the 74 chow-chow landraces collected from the North Eastern Hill region of India. Wide variations for fruit colors, fruit length (6.5-21.5 cm), fruit width (4.2-10.7 cm), fruit weight (60-560 g), vitamin-C (2.6-13.8 mg/100 g), reducing sugar (0.18-2.77%), total sugar (1.09-2.94%) and phenol content (0.17-3.85 mg/100 g FW) were recorded among the landraces. All the landraces were also characterized using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. In RAPD analyses, out of 28 primers a total of 198 reproducible amplicons were formed at an average of 7.01 per primer and an overall polymorphism of 88.38%. Eight fragments were specific to landraces with light green fruits. Four fragments were observed to be specific to RCSC-22 (dark green fruits) and another four specific to a RCSC-30 (pale yellow fruits). Out of 30 ISSR, only 5 primers generated a total of 32 reproducible amplicons with an average of 6.4 per primer and overall polymorphism of 62.5%. The pair wise similarity coefficient values ranged from 0.55 to 0.96. The grouping of landraces in cluster analysis was found to be independent of their respective geographic locations. The cuttings of suckers and shoot top (2 months old) treated with indole-3-butyric acid (200 mg l^-1) provide an alternative for the conservation of the diverse genetic materials to the researchers.