Sub-chronic oral toxicity study of the alkaloid rich fraction from Luffa cylindrica fruit in Sprague-Dawley rats

The loofah/sponge gourd Luffa cylindrica (L.), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is one of the neglected medicinal plants. Traditionally, Luffa cylindrica is prescribed for inducing labor. It has a long history of use in China for the treatment of fever, diabetes, dyspnea, and dysentery. This study investigated the toxicity profile of the alkaloid-rich fraction of Luffa cylindrica (ARF-LC) for the first time in Sprague Dawley rats. A total of 80 rats (40 male and 40 female rats) aged 13 weeks old and weighing 200-220 g were selected for this study. In SD rats, sub-chronic oral toxicity was investigated at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/d for a total of 90 days, followed by a 30-day recovery period. The results showed no variation in body weight among the three dose groups compared to the control group. Treatment-related adverse events, such as alterations in hematology and serum biochemistry parameters and the histology of the liver were sporadic in the high-dose rats but within the reference range. However, these changes disappeared after the doses were withdrawn during the recovery period. In conclusion, the "no observed adverse effect level" (NOAEL) of oral administration of ARF-LC in SD rats was considered 400 mg/kg/d and can be studied for its potential in further in vivo chronic investigations.

Removal of Azo Dyes from Water Using Natural Luffa cylindrica as a Non-Conventional Adsorbent

Reducing high concentrations of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, and dyes from water is an emerging necessity. We evaluated the use of Luffa cylindrica (Lc) as a natural non-conventional adsorbent to remove azo dye mixture (ADM) from water. The capacity of Lc at three different doses (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/L) was evaluated using three concentrations of azo dyes (0.125, 0.250, and 0.500 g/L). The removal percent (R%), maximum adsorption capacity (Qm), isotherm and kinetics adsorption models, and pH influence were evaluated, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The maximum R% was 70.8% for 10.0 g L-1Lc and 0.125 g L-1 ADM. The Qm of Lc was 161.29 mg g-1. Adsorption by Lc obeys a Langmuir isotherm and occurs through the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Statistical analysis showed that the adsorbent dose, the azo dye concentration, and contact time significantly influenced R% and the adsorption capacity. These findings indicate that Lc could be used as a natural non-conventional adsorbent to reduce ADM in water, and it has a potential application in the pretreatment of wastewaters.

Identification of WRKY Family Members and Characterization of the Low-Temperature-Stress-Responsive WRKY Genes in Luffa (Luffa cylindrica L.)

The plant-specific WRKY transcription factor family members have diverse regulatory effects on the genes associated with many plant processes. Although the WRKY proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and other species have been thoroughly investigated, there has been relatively little research on the WRKY family in Luffa cylindrica, which is one of the most widely grown vegetables in China. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis to identify L. cylindrica WRKY genes, which were subsequently classified and examined in terms of their gene structures, chromosomal locations, promoter cis-acting elements, and responses to abiotic stress. A total of 62 LcWRKY genes (471-2238 bp) were identified and divided into three phylogenetic groups (I, II, and III), with group II further divided into five subgroups (IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, and IIe) in accordance with the classification in other plants. The LcWRKY genes were unevenly distributed across 13 chromosomes. The gene structure analysis indicated that the LcWRKY genes contained 0-11 introns (average of 4.4). Moreover, 20 motifs were detected in the LcWRKY proteins with conserved motifs among the different phylogenetic groups. Two subgroup IIc members (LcWRKY16 and LcWRKY31) contained the WRKY sequence variant WRKYGKK. Additionally, nine cis-acting elements related to diverse responses to environmental stimuli were identified in the LcWRKY promoters. The subcellular localization analysis indicated that three LcWRKY proteins (LcWRKY43, LcWRKY7, and LcWRKY23) are localized in the nucleus. The tissue-specific LcWRKY expression profiles reflected the diversity in LcWRKY expression. The RNA-seq data revealed the effects of low-temperature stress on LcWRKY expression. The cold-induced changes in expression were verified via a qRT-PCR analysis of 24 differentially expressed WRKY genes. Both LcWRKY7 and LcWRKY12 were highly responsive to the low-temperature treatment (approximately 110-fold increase in expression). Furthermore, the LcWRKY8, LcWRKY12, and LcWRKY59 expression levels increased by more than 25-fold under cold conditions. Our findings will help clarify the evolution of the luffa WRKY family while also providing valuable insights for future studies on WRKY functions.

Methyl esters synthesis from Luffa cylindrica seeds oil using green copper oxide nanoparticle catalyst in membrane reactor

This study investigates the potential role of Juglans sp. root extract-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles of Luffa cylindrica seed oil (LCSO) into methyl esters. The synthesized green nanoparticle was characterized by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) spectroscopies to find out the crystalline size (40 nm), surface morphology (rod shape), particle size (80-85 nm), and chemical composition (Cu = 80.25% & O = 19.75%), accordingly. The optimized protocol for the transesterification reaction was adjusted as oil to methanol molar ratio (1:7), copper oxide nano-catalyst concentration (0.2 wt %), and temperature (90 °C) corresponding to the maximum methyl esters yield of 95%. The synthesized methyl esters were characterized by GC-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR studies to know and identify the chemical composition of newly synthesized Lufa biodiesel. The fuel properties of Luffa cylindrica seed oil biofuel were checked and compared with the American Biodiesel standards (ASTM) (D6751-10). Finally, it is commendable to use biodiesel made from wild, uncultivated, and non-edible Lufa cylindrica to promote and adopt a cleaner and sustainable energy method. The acceptance and implementation of the green energy method may result in favourable environmental effects, which in turn may lead to better societal and economic development.

Ameliorative effect of Luffa cylindrica fruits on Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology via autophagy induction

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder without an effective cure. Natural products, while showing promise as potential therapeutics for AD, remain underexplored.

AIMS

This study was conducted with the goal of identifying potential anti-AD candidates from natural sources using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) AD-like models and exploring their mechanisms of action.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Our laboratory's in-house herbal extract library was utilized to screen for potential anti-AD candidates using the C. elegans AD-like model CL4176. The neuroprotective effects of the candidates were evaluated in multiple C. elegans AD-like models, specifically targeting Aβ- and Tau-induced pathology. In vitro validation was conducted using PC-12 cells. To investigate the role of autophagy in mediating the anti-AD effects of the candidates, RNAi bacteria and autophagy inhibitors were employed.

RESULTS

The ethanol extract of air-dried fruits of Luffa cylindrica (LCE), a medicine-food homology species, was found to inhibit Aβ- and Tau-induced pathology (paralysis, ROS production, neurotoxicity, and Aβ and pTau deposition) in C. elegans AD-like models. LCE was non-toxic and enhanced C. elegans' health. It was shown that LCE activates autophagy and its anti-AD efficacy is weakened with the RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes. Additionally, LCE induced mTOR-mediated autophagy, reduced the expression of AD-associated proteins, and decreased cell death in PC-12 cells, which was reversed by autophagy inhibitors (bafilomycin A1 and 3-methyladenine).

DISCUSSION

LCE, identified from our natural product library, emerged as a valuable autophagy enhancer that effectively protects against neurodegeneration in multiple AD-like models. RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes and cotreatment with autophagy inhibitors weakened its anti-AD efficacy, implying a critical role of autophagy in mediating the neuroprotective effects of LCE.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight the potential of LCE as a functional food or drug for targeting AD pathology and promoting human health.

Microbial landscapes of the rhizosphere soils and roots of Luffa cylindrica plant associated with Meloidogyne incognita

Introduction

The root-knot nematodes (RKN), especially Meloidogyne spp., are globally emerging harmful animals for many agricultural crops.

Methods

To explore microbial agents for biological control of these nematodes, the microbial communities of the rhizosphere soils and roots of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) infected and non-infected by M. incognita nematodes, were investigated using culture-dependent and -independent methods.

Results

Thirty-two culturable bacterial and eight fungal species, along with 10,561 bacterial and 2,427 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), were identified. Nine culturable bacterial species, 955 bacterial and 701 fungal OTUs were shared in both four groups. More culturable bacterial and fungal isolates were detected from the uninfected soils and roots than from the infected soils and roots (except no fungi detected from the uninfected roots), and among all samples, nine bacterial species (Arthrobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Burkholderia ambifaria, Enterobacteriaceae sp., Fictibacillus barbaricus, Microbacterium sp., Micrococcaceae sp., Rhizobiaceae sp., and Serratia sp.) were shared, with Arthrobacter sp. and Bacillus sp. being dominant. Pseudomonas nitroreducens was exclusively present in the infested soils, while Mammaliicoccus sciuri, Microbacterium azadirachtae, and Priestia sp., together with Mucor irregularis, Penicillium sp., P. commune, and Sordariomycetes sp. were found only in the uninfected soils. Cupriavidus metallidurans, Gordonia sp., Streptomyces viridobrunneus, and Terribacillus sp. were only in the uninfected roots while Aspergillus sp. only in infected roots. After M. incognita infestation, 319 bacterial OTUs (such as Chryseobacterium) and 171 fungal OTUs (such as Spizellomyces) were increased in rhizosphere soils, while 181 bacterial OTUs (such as Pasteuria) and 166 fungal OTUs (such as Exophiala) rose their abundance in plant roots. Meanwhile, much more decreased bacterial or fungal OTUs were identified from rhizosphere soils rather than from plant roots, exhibiting the protective effects of host plant on endophytes. Among the detected bacterial isolates, Streptomyces sp. TR27 was discovered to exhibit nematocidal activity, and B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus sp. P35, and M. azadirachtae to show repellent potentials for the second stage M. incognita juveniles, which can be used to develop RKN bio-control agents.

Discussion

These findings provided insights into the interactions among root-knot nematodes, host plants, and microorganisms, which will inspire explorations of novel nematicides.

Assessment of various forms of cellulose-based Luffa cylindrica (mat, flakes and powder) reinforced polydimethylsiloxane composites for oil sorption and organic solvents absorption

Oil spillage has damaged public health noticeably and contributed to significant environmental deterioration. As a result, a significant amount of effort has been spent on investigating and developing the sorbent materials capable of separating oil from water. Thus, the sorbent materials that could be effective particularly in oil spill disposal and resolve such environmental issue remain to be explored. We have proposed luffa cylindrica (LC)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite forms to remove the oil and organic components that might be hazardous to aquatic organisms. The scaffolds were fabricated using hand lay-up method with various forms of luffa cylindrica i.e., LC mat, flakes and powder. Various characterizations such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), effective porosity, surface wettability, mechanical stability, cytotoxicity and sorption behavior with respect to oil, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and few organic solvents were performed. The results showed that the scaffold in combination with P-L flakes was highly effective in eradicating oil spills and removing harmful components of crude oil. Scaffolds composed of P-L mat, P-L flakes, P-L powder, and PDMS (P) exhibited oil absorption efficacy around 16.09 ± 4.62 %, 24.49 ± 3.55 %, 15.52 ± 2.67 % and 5.52 ± 1.44 %, respectively. We anticipate that the proposed scaffolds have the tremendous potential to provide a solution to this significant environmental remediation issue and to serve as a cost-effective method for removing oil spills and hazardous crude oil components.

Fabrication and in vitro characterization of luffa-based composite scaffolds incorporated with gelatin, hydroxyapatite and psyllium husk for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering is an emerging technology that has been developed in recent years to address bone abnormalities by repairing, regenerating and replacing damaged/injured tissues. In present work, we report the fabrication and characterization of porous luffa-based composite scaffolds composed of Luffa cylindrica (sponge gourd) powder (LC)/hydroxyapatite (HA), psyllium husk (PH) and gelatin (G) in various combinations (w/v) i.e. 3% LC, 5% LC and control (C) (without luffa powder) by using freeze-drying method. The structural stability of the scaffolds was obtained after chemically crosslinking them with glutaraldehyde (GTA), which was identified via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The hydrophilic behavior of the samples was quantified by water contact angle measurements. The average pore size of the scaffolds was observed in a range of 20-240 µm. As per the obtained data, the apparent and effective porosities were estimated as ∼57.08 ± 4.38%, ∼50.58 ± 4.09%, ∼59.45 ± 1.60% and 51.37 ± 3.36%, 47.94 ± 4.57% and 53.09 ± 5.45% for 3% LC, 5% LC and control (C) scaffolds, respectively. The scaffolds were found to be noticeably stable for 50 days at 37 °C in a lysozyme solution. The liquid retention capacity of the scaffolds revealed that the luffa-based scaffolds gained lower retention capacity compared to the control (C) scaffold; indicating an increase in scaffold stiffness due to the addition of luffa. Compressive strength study demonstrated that the mechanical stability of the fabricated luffa-based scaffolds got increased significantly from ∼1.5 to ∼9.5 MPa, which is comparable to that of trabecular bone. In addition, proliferation and viability analysis of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells revealed a significant level of cellular compatibility i.e. approaching ∼64% proliferation by 6th day in vitro compared to control. Thus, the obtained results demonstrate that the fabricated novel luffa-based scaffolds exhibit good cytocompatibility, remarkable porosity and excellent mechanical strength comparable to native human bone. Therefore, we anticipate that the developed luffa-based scaffolds could be a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering applications.

Loofah Sandwich Panels: The Effect of Adhesive Content on Mechanical and Physical Properties

In the development of new materials, the focus nowadays is increasingly on their relevance with regard to lightweight construction or environmental compatibility. The idea of a lightweight sandwich panel was inspired by an increasing number of cosmetic accessories that use the fibers of the loofah plant, a rapidly renewable, light, fibrous raw material. The aim of the study was to develop a fiber composite panel based on the fibers of the loofah plant (Luffa cylindrica) as core material and wooden veneer as the skin layer to be used in areas of lead construction. Three different panel variations were produced for the tests, with a fiber-adhesive ratio between 1:1.05, 1:0.8, and 1:0.5. The mechanical strength (flexural strength and internal bond) and the physical properties (density and thickness swelling) were determined as a function of the fiber-adhesive composition. The results show that the flexural strength increased by approx. 400% and the thickness swelling was reduced by 10% with increasing adhesive quantity.

Surface magnetization of hydrolyzed Luffa Cylindrica biowaste with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for facile Ni2+ removal from wastewater

A novel magnetic adsorbent based on hydrolyzed Luffa Cylindrica (HLC) was synthesized through the chemical co-precipitation technique, and its potential was evaluated in the adsorptive elimination of divalent nickel ions from water medium. Morphological assessment and properties of the adsorbent were performed using FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, and TEM techniques. The effect of pH, temperature, time and nickel concentration on the removal efficiency was studied, and pH = 6, room temperature (25 °C), contact time of 60 min, and Ni²⁺ ion concentration of 10 mg.L^-1 were introduced as the optimal values. At optimal conditions, the removal efficiency of Ni²⁺ ions using HLC and HLC/CoFe₂O₄ magnetic composite was calculated as 96.38 and 99.13%, respectively. The adsorption process kinetic followed a pseudo-first-order model. Langmuir isotherm was suitable for modelling the experimental data of the Ni²⁺ adsorption. The maximum elimination capacity of HLC and HLC/CoFe₂O₄ samples was calculated as 42.75 and 44.42 mg g^-1, respectively. Furthermore, thermodynamic investigations proved the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the process. The adsorption efficiency was decreased with increasing the content of Ca²⁺ and Na ⁺ cations in aqueous media. During reusability of the synthesized adsorbents, it was found that after 8 cycles, no significant decrease has occurred in the adsorption efficiency. In addition, real wastewater treatment results proved that HLC/CoFe₂O₄ magnetic composite has an excellent performance in removal of heavy metals pollutant from shipbuilding effluent.

Identification and Characterization of Colletotrichum fructicola and Colletotrichum siamense Causing Anthracnose on Luffa Sponge Gourd in China

Luffa sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) is an important cucurbitaceous vegetable and is known as the source of loofah. From 2020 to 2021, a leaf disease occurred on luffa leaves in the Hunan Province of China. Symptoms were displayed as oval to irregular chlorotic lesions surrounded by yellow halos. The pathogens were isolated from the affected leaves. According to morphological characterization and molecular identification using multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), actin (ACT), chitin synthase (CHS-1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), β-tubulin (TUB2), and partial mating type (Mat1-2) gene (ApMAT) regions, the pathogens were identified as two Colletotrichum species: Colletotrichum fructicola and C. siamense. Koch's postulates were identified by a pathogenicity test and re-confirmation. To the best of our knowledge, C. fructicola and C. siamense are two new species associated with luffa sponge gourd anthracnose.

First Report of Alternaria tenuissima Causing Leaf spot on Luffa cylindrica in China

In August 2020-2021, symptoms of leaf spot were observed in luffa (Luffa cylindrical) fields in Qingdao city, Shandong Province. In all the 10 fields investigated, leaf spot occurred. The incidence (% luffa plants with symptoms from a defined number of plants assessed) was 35 to 60%. Early symptoms of infected leaves were small and irregular chlorotic lesions which later became irregular brown spots. As the disease progressed, the lesions gradually spread from the edge to the center of leaves to the middle, and became dark brown. The enlarged spots coalesced and eventually led to the withering and death of the leaves. In order to isolate the pathogen, 30 symptomatic leaves were collected from different planting fields. Small pieces of leaf tissues (5×5 mm) were cut from the junction of healthy and diseased tissues, sanitized with 2% NaClO for 1 min, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water. The tissue samples were then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 50 mg/L streptomycin sulfate, and incubated at 28℃ for 5 days in the dark. Ten purified fungal isolates were obtained by single spore isolation method. Colonies of these fungal isolates on the PDA medium were initially grayish-white, and then turned olive green with abundant cotton-like aerial hyphae. On potato carrot agar (PCA) medium, these fungi produced light brown and solitary conidiophore with septum. Conidia were obclavate or ellipsoid, brown, with 1-5 transverse septa and 0-3 longitudinal septa, and measured 13.2 to 49.5 × 9.5 to 21.6 µm (n=50). The morphological characteristics of these isolates were consistent with that of Alternaria spp. (Simmons 2007). The representative isolate NEAU-SG-1 was selected for molecular identification. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF), histone 3 (HIS3), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) were amplified using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), gpd1/gpd2 (Berbee et al. 1999), EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), H3-1a/H3-1b (Glass and Donaldson 1995), and RPB2-5F2/fRPB2-7cR (Sung et al. 2007), respectively. Sequences of these genes of isolate NEAU-SG-1 were deposited into GenBank database with the accession numbers of OL307719, OL415166, OL415169, OL415167, and OL415168. BLAST analysis of these sequences showed 99-100% homology with sequence homology with Alternaria tenuissima strains (ITS, MH824269; GAPDH, MK683783; TEF, MN056178; HIS3, MH824371; RPB2, LC621694). To fulfill Koch's postulates, ten surface disinfected 30-day-old luffa seedlings were inoculated by spraying conidia suspension (106 conidia/ml) of isolate NEAU-SG-1. The other ten surface disinfected seedlings inoculated with sterile distilled water served as the control group. After inoculation, each plant was covered with plastic bags for three days and cultured in greenhouse at 25℃. One week later, leaves inoculated with conidia suspension were observed with the same symptoms as described above, while the leaves of the control group were asymptomatic. Pathogenicity test was repeated twice. The Alternaria isolates were successfully re-isolated from those infected leaves and identified using the morphological and molecular methods described above. A. tenuissima has a wide host range in the world, and is the pathogen of leaf spot of many crops (Ma et al. 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. tenuissima causing leaf spot on luffa in China. This report will provide basic information for the diagnosis and prevention and control strategies of luffa leaf spot.

Preparation of a sustainable bio-copolymer based on Luffa cylindrica cellulose and poly(ɛ-caprolactone) for bioplastic applications

In this research, a bio-based graft copolymer (LCC-g-PCL) based on the cellulose of Luffa cylindrica (LCC) main chain possessing poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) pendant groups is synthesized through a grafting from approach via ring-opening polymerization (ROP). For this purpose, LCC, extracted from luffa sponges by combined method, is utilized for ROP of ɛ-caprolactone (ɛ-CL) as a macro-initiator in the presence of stannous octoate as a catalyst. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) spectroscopies are utilized to structurally indicate the success of ROP, while the achieved graft copolymer is analyzed in detail by comparing with LCC and neat PCL in terms of wettability, thermal and degradation behaviors by conducting water contact angle (WCA) measurements, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry analyses (TGA and DSC) and in vitro both hydrolytic and enzymatic biodegradation tests, respectively. The results of conducted tests show that the incorporation of PCL groups on LCC provide the increasing hydrophobicity. In addition, the degradation behavior of the LCC-g-PCL copolymer is found to be more pronounced under enzymatic medium rather than hydrolytic conditions. It is anticipated from the results that LCC-g-PCL can be a potential eco-friendly material particularly in bioplastic industry.

Development of a biosponge based on Luffa cylindrica and crosslinked chitosan for Allura red AC adsorption

A new bioadsorbent from Luffa cylindrica and cross-linked chitosan was proposed in the present study. Luffa was used as a natural support medium for chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (LCsG) and epichlorohydrin (LCsE). Biosponges were applied to remove Allura red from aqueous solutions. LCsG and LCsE were produced using different concentrations of chitosan (1%, 3% and 5% (m v^-1)) and crosslinking agents (0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% (v v^-1)). Based on the FT-IR spectra, functional groups characteristic of chitosan crosslinked with glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin confirmed the crosslinking. In addition, the biosorbent revealed highly efficient functional groups and morphology with irregularities favorable for adsorption. It was found that the increase in the percentage of glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin increased the sample's swelling degree, and the degree of cross-linking was greater than 80% for all LCsG. The results regarding the degree of swelling and degree of crosslinking corroborated with the evaluation of the biosponge's adsorptive potential. The Sips model predicted the equilibrium isotherms, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 89.05 mg g^-1 for LCsG and 60.91 mg g^-1 for LCsE. The new procedure was successful. Luffa was excellent support for chitosan, resulting in an attractive, low-cost bioadsorbent, preventing renewable sources.

Luffa cylindrica: a promising herbal treatment in progesterone induced obesity in mice

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigates the anti-obesity activity of Luffa cylindrica in progesterone induced obesity model.

METHOD

Swiss albino mice were grouped into 7 (n = 6). Obesity was induced by administration of progesterone (10 mg/kg s.c.) for 28 days. Normal group received ad libitum and water. Disease control, positive control and treatment groups received progesterone (10 mg/kg s.c.). Further positive control group received Orlistat (10 mg/kg p.o). Treatment groups received hydro-alcoholic and fractionation extract of Luffa cylindrica at doses 400, 200, 100 mg/kg b.w. Food and water intake were recorded daily, Body weight, BMI and blood glucose were checked weekly. On completion of the study, animals were sacrificed and blood serum being utilized to accesses in vitro to estimate the various biochemical parameters. Serotonin levels and antioxidant biomarkers were also estimated. Histopathology of liver and adipose tissue was studied.

RESULT

After the 28 days of treatment with plant extract and fraction, it was observed to improve the progestrogen-induced obesity by improving BMI, body weight, brain serotionin, locomotor activity, blood glucose level, anti-oxidant biomarkers, and lipid profile.

CONCLUSION

After assimilating the In vivo and in vitro studies Luffa cylindrical extract highlighted the antilipidemic, anti-hyperglycaemic, antioxidant potential in hormone-induced obesity.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Luffa Cylindrica Leaves Extract against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic Stem Cells

BACKGROUND

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive malignancy defined by accumulation of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow. Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) are the major cause of the recurrence and metastasis of ALL. This study aimed to develop an effective anti-cancer agent targeting these LSCs. Luffa Cylindrica (L.C.) leaves extract was selected to evaluate its effect on ALL via eradicating the LSCs as it contains many active anti-cancer flavonoids.

METHODS

Thirty-two bone marrow samples of ALL patients were used in this study. LSCs population was identified in the selected samples. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation marker; ki-67 and colony forming assay were further analyzed.

RESULTS

This study revealed the expression of CD34+/CD38+ cells in addition to CD34+/CD38- population and the extract was effective against the two LSCs populations. MTT assay showed that treated leukemic cells exhibited significant reduction in the viable cells in a dose dependent manner with IC50 of 3 µg/µl which was then confirmed by flow cytometry. Cell cycle analysis results showed significant reduction in the percentage of cells treated with L.C. extract in both the S and G0/G1 phases, with concomitant increase in the G2/M phase. Also, L.C. extract could effectively induce apoptosis, inhibit proliferation and suppress colonogenecity of leukemic cells.

CONCLUSION

This study validated the medicinal potential of L.C. leaves extract as a promising anti-leukemic agent targeting both LSCs and blasts in ALL patients, which may be explained by the synergy found between its potent flavonoids especially apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol.

The Molecular Characterization and Biological Assessment of the Leaves Extracts of Loofah Reveal their Nutraceutical Potential

BACKGROUND

Luffa cylindrica is a plant that is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and can be grown in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Few patents dealt with Loofah biological properties, including some functional foods formulated from its leaves.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to structurally and functionally characterize the bioactive compounds of L. cylindrica leaves grown in two different environments.

METHODS

The extracts of L. cylindrica leaves collected from two Tunisian locations: Essouasi (LE), a semi-arid region and Medenine (LM), an arid region, were investigated for their phenolic compounds and fatty acids using HPLC/TOF-MS and GC-MS techniques, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated with DPPH, Chelating effect, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging activities while the anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines was assessed using xCELLigence real time cell analyzer and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay.

RESULTS

The antiproliferative capacity of both extracts was time and dose-dependent, with LE presenting the lowest HeLa cell index (CI = 0.035 ± 0.018, 250 μg/ml). LE also showed the best cytotoxic capacity (56.49 ± 0.8%) and antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 54.41 ± 1.12 μg/ml for DPPH and 12.12 ± 0.07 μg/ml for chelating effect). 14 phenolic compounds were detected in LE, with ferulic acid being the major compound (5128.5 ± 4.09 μg Phenols/g), while LM had only 6 phenolics. GCMS analysis showed the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in LE.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that L. cylindrica leaves, especially when collected from semiarid regions, are promising for formulating nutraceuticals of interest.

De novo assemblies of Luffa acutangula and Luffa cylindrica genomes reveal an expansion associated with substantial accumulation of transposable elements

Luffa spp. (sponge gourd or ridge gourd) is an economically important vegetable crop widely cultivated in China, India and Southeast Asia. Here, we employed PacBio long-read single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing to perform de novo genome assemblies of two commonly cultivated Luffa species, L. acutangula and L. cylindrica. We obtained preliminary draft genomes of 734.6 Mb and 689.8 Mb with scaffold N50 of 786,130 and 578,616 bases for L. acutangula and L. cylindrica, respectively. We also applied long-range Chicago and HiC techniques to obtain the first chromosome-scale whole-genome assembly of L. acutangula. The final assembly contained 13 pseudomolecules, corresponding to the haploid chromosome number in Luffa spp. (1n = 13, 2n = 26). The sizes of the assembled Luffa genomes are approximately twice as large as the genome assemblies of related Cucurbitaceae. A large proportion of L. acutangula (62.17%; 456.69 Mb) and L. cylindrica (56.78%; 391.65 Mb) genome assemblies contained repetitive elements. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the substantial accumulation of transposable elements likely contributed to the expansion of the Luffa genomes. We also investigated alternative splicing events in Luffa using full-length transcript sequences obtained from PacBio Isoform Sequencing (Iso-seq). While the predominant form of alternative splicing in most plant species examined was intron retention, alternative 3' acceptor site selection appeared to be a major event observed in Luffa. High-quality genome assemblies for L. acutangula and L. cylindrica reported here provide valuable resources for Luffa breeding and future genetics and comparative genomics studies in Cucurbitaceae.

Green corrosion inhibition and adsorption characteristics of Luffa cylindrica leaf extract on mild steel in hydrochloric acid environment

The corrosion inhibition of Luffa cylindrica Leaf Extract (LCLE) was investigated using gravimetric, depth of attack and surface analysis techniques. Effect of inhibitor concentrations (0.50-1.00 g/l), temperatures (30-60 °C) and immersion time (4-12 h) was studied on the Inhibition Efficiency (IE) of the extract on Mild Steel (MS) immersed in a 0.5 M HCl solution. The constituents of the proposed inhibitor were identified by using a GC-MS. The media solutions and adsorbed film on MS were characterized using FTIR Spectrophotometer. SEM microgram and surface tester were applied for studying surface morphology and depth of attack profile. The optimum IE of 87.89% was obtained. The LCLE adsorption on MS followed Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. Activation energy (28.71 kJ/mol), entropy (- 0.15 kJ/mol. K), average enthalpy (-28.00 kJ/mol) and Gibbs free energy (-11.43 kJ/mol) obtained at optimum condition indicate exothermic process and physical adsorption mechanism. The result obtained in this study compared well with many reported green inhibitors for MS corrosion.

Genetic diversity and population structure detection in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) using ISSR, SCoT and morphological markers

Investigation of genetic diversity is essential for the selection of parents for crop breeding and conservation of genetic resources. To estimate the genetic variability and population structure in the midst of 45 accessions of sponge gourd brought together from different geographical areas of India, morphological traits and two molecular markers, ISSR and SCoT markers were compared. Principal components analysis of 20 morphological traits showed 72.70% variability and significant positive correlations between fruit traits. All three marker techniques clustered all accessions into two groups with few outgroups. High level of polymorphism was observed among ISSR (74.6%) and SCoT (71.5%) primers. The Bayesian model revealed the hidden grouping and showed admixture type of population. The diversity pattern is influenced by genetic marker used, as different molecular markers have different polymorphism evaluation efficiency. This study can be helpful in amplifying the genetic base and selection of specific traits for breeding. Thus, ISSR and SCoT markers are potential marker for identification in sponge gourd and provide valuable data on its genetic correlation and structure.

Cytotoxic effect of aqueous ethanolic extract of Luffa cylindrica leaves on cancer stem cells CD44+/24- in breast cancer patients with various molecular sub-types using tissue samples in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem is a climbing plant its parts have been used as traditional medicine for the treatment of different types of diseases including diarrhea, inflammation, cancer and viral infections. The parts used include fruit, seeds and leaves.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our study aims to investigate the effect of the aqueous-ethanol extract of Luffa cylindrica leaves on breast cancer stem cells CD44⁺/24^- and other cell sub-populations using clinical samples with different molecular sub-types of breast cancer in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Breast tissues were obtained from patients undergoing surgery for the removal of breast tumors after complete clinical and pathological investigations. Tissue samples were processed to cell suspensions and treated with the extract in the tissue culture laboratory. Percentages of cell sub-populations within tumors and viability were measured by flowcytometry using clusters of differentiation as cell markers.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that there were decreases in the total cell viability, CD44⁺/24^- and total CD24⁺ cell sub-populations percentages after treatment with the extract, this may be an important indication of using Luffa leaves extract in the treatment of breast cancer or in combination with the traditional treatments.

CONCLUSION

Luffa cylindrica has proven to have anticancer activity on three different subtypes of breast cancer including luminal A, luminal B and Her2/neu enriched more over it has cytotoxic effect on both bulk tumor cells as well as cancer stem cells sub population CD44⁺/24^- which possess high tumorigenic potency, these results were confirmed by measuring their viable number after treatment and sphere formation assay results.

extract against circulating cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem. has been recognized as traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases like inflammatory diseases, diarrhea and viral infections. The usual parts used include fruit, seeds and leaves.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the anticancer activity of the hot water extract of the whole plant of Luffa cylindrica using circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells isolated from the peripheral blood of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy five adult patients who reported as stage II and III Hepatocellular carcinoma were selected. Blood samples were withdrawn and the circulating tumor cells were isolated from the whole blood. Tumor cells and cancer stem cells were detected and isolated by flow cytometric techniques. The isolated cell types were cultured and propagated in the tissue culture facility, the extract was tested on the isolated cells.

RESULTS

Luffa cylindrica hot water extract has shown cytotoxic activity against circulating tumor cells of hepatocellular carcinoma especially the cells sub-population CD133⁺/CD44⁺ with little effect among CD133⁺/CD44^- sub-population.

CONCLUSION

Hot water extract of Luffa cylindrica whole plant could decrease the ratio of cancer stem cells in blood of HCC patients and may be used to minimize recurrence and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Influence of chemically modified Luffa on the preparation of nanofiber and its biological evaluation for biomedical applications

In the present investigation, the natural cellulose was extracted from Luffa cylindrica vegetable sponge by chemical modification. Both chemically modified and unmodified Luffa was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The chemically modified cellulose was used for the preparation of a nanofibrous scaffold using the electrospinning method. In order to achieve the uniform and bead free fibers with desired fiber diameter the parameters such as applied voltage, tip to collector distance, solution concentration were optimized. Different ratio of hydroxyapatite (HAP): polylactic acid (PLA) such as 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, and 70:30 have been selected for the current evaluation and was compared with HAP-treated cellulose (TC)-PLA. With the increase in the concentration of HAP in the polymeric network, the diameter of the fiber was found to be thin with the high electric field. The functional group, phase formation and dielectric and mechanical properties of the developed nanofiber have been characterized by FTIR, XRD, mechanical property measurements, and SEM. From the results, we observed that the polymer composite developed with the ratio of 70:30 produces a bead free product with enhanced mechanical and bioactivity property by the formation of hydroxy carbonated apatite layer on the surface. All the nanofibrous scaffold fabricated with and without modification have shown good Cyto compatibility on MG-63 Osteoblast cell lines at 48 hr. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 610-620, 2019.

Chemical Composition of Aqueous Ethanol Extract of Luffa cylindrica Leaves and Its Effect on Representation of Caspase-8, Caspase-3, and the Proliferation Marker Ki67 in Intrinsic Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer in Vitro

Breast cancer constitutes the second most prevalent cancer in Egypt, the problem needs more trends in treatment and treatment development either by regimen modification or introducing new drugs, and the main objective of this study is to screen the effects of the aqueous ethanol herbal extract of Luffa cylindrica leaves on different types of breast cancer cell lines representing different molecular subtypes of the disease. The major active constituents of the extract were tentatively identified by LC/MS which revealed the presence of phenolic compound derivatives and saponin that may be responsible in part for the activity of the extract. The emphasis was laid on the main apoptotic pathways as well as the extract effect on the normal cell line. Results of phytochemical investigation, cell cycle analysis, and molecular analysis of apoptotic and proliferative markers have shown effective anticancer activity against MCF-7, BT-474, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines which represent three subtypes of breast cancer, luminal A, luminal B, and triple negative, respectively. On the other hand, the effects on normal lung fibroblast cell line are less prominent at the dose used for treating breast cancer cell lines.

Effect of standardized fruit extract of Luffa cylindrica on oxidative stress markers in hydrogen peroxide induced cataract

OBJECTIVE

The ability of Luffa cylindrica Roem fruit extract (LCE) to modulate biochemical parameters was investigated by in vitro studies for its role in hydrogen peroxide induced cataract on isolated goat lenses which were incubated for 72 h at 37°C.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Test groups contained 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 µg/ml of LCE along with 1 ml of H2O2 (0.5 mM) as cataract inducer. Lenses were examined for morphological variation and transparency periodically during the incubation. Biochemical parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), total protein content (TPC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated.

RESULTS

SOD, GSH, and TPC levels were found to increase proportionally with the concentration of LCE. However, MDA levels were found to be inversely proportional to the concentration of LCE. Opacity was graded as per "lens opacities classification system III." Morphological examination suggested that LCE (25 µg/ml) maintained a vision for 44 h. No lens in LCE dose groups developed dense nuclear opacity after 24 h as opposed to 80% in negative control.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that LCE can delay the onset and/or prevent the progression of cataract which can be attributed to the presence of adequate phenolics, flavonoids, and Vitamin A and its high nutritional value. This preliminary study can be further synergized by testing LCE against other in vivo and in vitro models of cataract.

Microarray and genetic analysis reveals that csa-miR159b plays a critical role in abscisic acid-mediated heat tolerance in grafted cucumber plants

Root-shoot communication plays a vital role in plant growth, development and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Grafting-induced stress tolerance is associated with the induction of plentiful stress-related genes and proteins; the mechanism involved, however, remains obscure. Here, we show that the enhanced tolerance against heat stress in cucumber plants with luffa as rootstock was accompanied with an increased accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), down-regulation of a subset of microRNAs (miRNAs) but up-regulation of their target genes and CsHSP70 accumulation in the shoots. Significantly, luffa rootstock and foliar application of ABA both down-regulated csa-miR159b and up-regulated its target mRNAs CsGAMYB1 and CsMYB29-like and CsHSP70 accumulation in cucumber, while ectopic expression of csa-miR159b led to decreased heat tolerance, AtMYB33 transcript and AtHSP70 accumulation in Arabidopsis plants. Taken together, our results suggest that root-originated signals such as ABA could alter miRNAs in the shoots, which have a major role in the post-transcriptional regulation of the stress-responsive genes.

Biosorption of alpacide blue from aqueous solution by lignocellulosic biomass: Luffa cylindrica fibers

The aim of the present work is to develop an effective and inexpensive pollutant-removal technology using lignocellulosic fibers: Luffa cylindrica, for the biosorption of an anionic dye: alpacide blue. The influence of some experimental parameters such as pH, temperature, initial concentration of the polluted solution, and mass of the sorbent L. cylindrica on the biosorption of alpacide blue by L. cylindrica fibers has been investigated. Optimal parameters for maximum quantity of biosorption dye were achieved after 2 h of treatment in a batch system using an initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L, a mass of 1 g of L. cylindrica fibers, and pH 2. In these conditions, the quantity of dye retained is 2 mg/g and the retention rate is 78 %. Finally, a mathematical modeling of kinetics and isotherms has been used for mathematical modeling; the model of pseudo-second order is more appropriate to describe this phenomenon of biosorption. Concerning biosorption isotherms, the Freundlich model is the most appropriate for a biosorption of alpacide blue dye by L. cylindrica fibers.

Exploiting the efficacy of Lysinibacillus sp. RGS for decolorization and detoxification of industrial dyes, textile effluent and bioreactor studies

Complete decolorization and detoxification of Reactive Orange 4 within 5 h (pH 6.6, at 30°C) by isolated Lysinibacillus sp. RGS was observed. Significant reduction in TOC (93%) and COD (90%) was indicative of conversion of complex dye into simple products, which were identified as naphthalene moieties by various analytical techniques (HPLC, FTIR, and GC-MS). Supplementation of agricultural waste extract considered as better option to make the process cost effective. Oxido-reductive enzymes were found to be involved in the degradation mechanism. Finally Loofa immobilized Lysinibacillus sp. cells in a fixed-bed bioreactor showed significant decolorization with reduction in TOC (51 and 64%) and COD (54 and 66%) for synthetic and textile effluent at 30 and 35 mL h(-1) feeding rate, respectively. The degraded metabolites showed non-toxic nature revealed by phytotoxicity and photosynthetic pigments content study for Sorghum vulgare and Phaseolus mungo. In addition nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing microbes were less affected in treated wastewater and thus the treated effluent can be used for the irrigation purpose. This work could be useful for the development of efficient and ecofriendly technologies to reduce dye content in the wastewater to permissible levels at affordable cost.

Hydrogen peroxide mediates abscisic acid-induced HSP70 accumulation and heat tolerance in grafted cucumber plants

Root-shoot communications play important roles in plant stress responses. Here, we examined the roles of root-sourced signals in the shoot response to heat in cucumber plants. Cucumber plants grafted onto their own roots and luffa roots were exposed to aerial and root-zone heat to examine their tolerance by assessing the levels of oxidative stress, PSII photoinhibition, accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), H2 O2 and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 using immunoblotting, chlorophyll fluorescence, immunoassay, CeCl3 staining and Western blotting, respectively. Grafting onto the luffa rootstock enhanced the shoot tolerance to the heat. This enhanced tolerance was associated with increased accumulation of ABA and apoplastic H2 O2 , RBOH transcripts and HSP70 expression and a decrease in oxidative stress in the shoots. The increases in the ABA and H2 O2 concentrations in the shoots were attributed to an increase in ABA transport from roots and an increase in ABA biosynthesis in the shoots when the root-zone and shoots were heat stressed, respectively. Inhibition of H2 O2 accumulation compromised luffa rootstock-induced HSP70 expression and heat tolerance. These results suggest that, under heat stress, ABA triggers the expression of HSP70 in an apoplastic H2 O2 -dependent manner, implicating the role of an ABA-dependent H2 O2 -driven mechanism in a systemic response involving root-shoot communication.

Cucurbits depicted in Byzantine mosaics from Israel, 350-600 ce

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Thousands of floor mosaics were produced in lands across the Roman and Byzantine empires. Some mosaics contain depictions of agricultural produce, potentially providing useful information concerning the contemporary presence and popularity of crop plants in a particular geographical region. Hundreds of floor mosaics produced in Israel during the Byzantine period have survived. The objective of the present work was to search these mosaics for Cucurbitaceae in order to obtain a more complete picture of cucurbit crop history in the eastern Mediterranean region.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-three mosaics dating from 350-600 ce were found that had images positively identifiable as cucurbits. The morphological diversity of the cucurbit fruits in the mosaics of Israel is greater than that appearing in mosaics from any other Roman or Byzantine provincial area. The depicted fruits vary in shape from oblate to extremely long, and some are furrowed, others are striped and others lack definite markings. The cucurbit taxa depicted in the mosaics are Cucumis melo (melon), Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), Luffa aegyptiaca (sponge gourd) and Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd). Cucumis melo is the most frequently found taxon in the mosaics and is represented by round dessert melons and long snake melons. Fruits of at least two cultivars of snake melons and of watermelons are represented. To our knowledge, images of sponge gourds have not been found in Roman and Byzantine mosaics elsewhere. Indeed, the mosaics of Israel contain what are probably the oldest depictions of Luffa aegyptiaca in Mediterranean lands. Sponge gourds are depicted often, in 11 of the mosaics at eight localities, and the images include both mature fruits, which are useful for cleaning and washing, and immature fruits, which are edible. Only one mosaic has images positively identifiable as of bottle gourds, and these were round-pyriform and probably used as vessels.

Improvement of Ni phytostabilization by inoculation of Ni resistant Bacillus megaterium SR28C

The use of metal tolerant plants for the phytostabilization of metal contaminated soil is an area of extensive research and development. In this study the effects of inoculation of Ni-resistant bacterial strains on phytostabilization potential of various plants, including Brassica juncea, Luffa cylindrica and Sorghum halepense, were studied. A Ni-resistant bacterial strain SR28C was isolated from a nickel rich serpentine soil and identified as Bacillus megaterium based on the morphological features, biochemical characteristics and partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain SR28C tolerated concentrations up to 1200 mg Ni L(-1) on a Luria-Bertani (LB) agar medium. Besides, it showed high degree of resistance to various metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr) and antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, penicillin and kanamycin) tested. In addition, the strain bound considerable amounts of Ni in their resting cells. Besides, the strain exhibited the plant growth promoting traits, such as solubilization of phosphate and production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in modified Pikovskayas medium and LB medium, respectively in the absence and presence of Ni. Considering such potential, the effects of SR28C on the growth and Ni accumulation of B. juncea, L. cylindrica and S. halepense, were assessed with different concentrations of Ni in soil. Inoculation of SR28C stimulated the biomass of the test plants grown in both Ni contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Further, SR28C alleviated the detrimental effects of Ni by reducing its uptake and translocation to the plants. This study suggested that the PGPB inoculant due to its intrinsic abilities of growth promotion and attenuation of the toxic effects of Ni could be exploited for phytostabilization of Ni contaminated site.

Performance of Luffa cylindrica as immobilization matrix in bioconversion reactions by Nicotiana tabacum BY-2

The dry fruit of Luffa cylindrica was investigated as an immobilization matrix for Nicotiana tabacum cells in bioconversion reactions of exogenous substrates. Immobilized cells show high biocatalytic activity under high substrate levels. Cell growth on the dry fruit can be maintained until reaching an immobilization capacity of 1.8 g cells/g(Luffa).