• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.540-545
• /
• 2009

Aloe (Aloe vera L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. tuberculatus Gabaj.) and sponge.gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) are well utilized in Asian countries as traditional medicines and cosmetics, or foods. And we carried out an experiment to see if there are some specific ratios among trace metals on the plants. Though the metal concentrations varied significantly depending on the sampling periods, aloe gel is high in iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca). Cucumber fruit juice is also high in iron (Fe) and potassium (K). Sponge.gourd sap contains a high amount of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca). The uses of the previous 3 plant parts are considered to have some relations to their different ratios and of their trace metals.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2010

The objective of the present investigation is to evaluate the antimicrobial potency of the terpenoid fractions isolated from Luffa cylindrica seeds against various pathogenic microbes. The seeds were powdered and extracted with methanol in soxhlet appratus based on phytochemical screening. Three terpenoid components were isolated by column chromatography and identified by thin layer chromatography and chemical analysis which were designated as ${LCSF_4}^*$, ${LCSF_6}^*$ & ${LCSF_8}^*$ respectively. Disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of test compounds I, II and III $({LCSF_4}^*,\;{LCSF_6}^*\;&\;{LCSF_8}^*)$ against 6 microbial species viz., Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, Bacillus (B.) subtilis, Escherichia (E.) coli, Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa, Candida (C.) albicans and Aspergillus niger. The disc was saturated with $100{\mu}l$ of each compound, allowed to dry and introduced on the upper layer of seeded agar plate. The plates were incubated overnight at $37^{\circ}C$. Microbial growth was determined by measuring the zonal inhibition diameters. Compound I showed maximum potency against gram positive S. aureus (21 mm) in comparison with standard ciprofloxacin (38 mm), whereas the same compound was completely devoid of activity against both the fungi tested. Compound II was found to be highly sensitive against both the gram negative E. coli (20 mm) and P. aeruginosa (22 mm). Compound II was found to exhibit maximum potency against the fungi C. albicans (15 mm) and A. niger (20 mm). Compound III was found to be very effective against both the gram positive S. aureus (20 mm) and B. subtilis (15 mm) respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 2007

Fresh unripe whole fruits of Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) or Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae) were evaluated for the antidiabetic and hyperlipidemic potential in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by administration of intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin at a dose of 55 mg/kg body weight. After the induction of diabetes aqueous extract of L.tuberosa (AELT) was administered orally at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. body weight/day for a period of 14 days. The Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, serum insulin levels, changes in body weight, food and liquid intake were measured. In diabetic rats, the AELT exhibited significant reduction in blood glucose levels. Biochemical assay of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in liver were assessed. Antihyperlipidemia in diabetic rats after the extract supplementation was confirmed by significant reduction in the levels of above mentioned hyperlipidemic indicators. This study focus on the efficacy of L.tuberosa fruits for the management of experimental STZ induced diabetic rats and provides the scientific basis of ancient herbal therapy and use of these fruits as vegetable.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.247-253
• /
• 2006

The antitumor activity of crude saponin mixture obtained from Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) (Fam; Cucurbitaceae) hairy roots (CSLT) in mice transplanted with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was investigated. The EAC-bearing mice receiving 150 and $300{\mu}g/kg$ body weight, (i.p) of CSLT have shown a dose dependent elevation in tumor-tree survival and a highest number of survivors were observed after administration of CSLT $(300{\mu}g/kg)$, which was considered as an optimum dose for its antineoplastic action. The mean survival time (MST) for this dose was approximately $47.1{\pm}0.74d$, when compared with $19.0{\pm}0.36d$ of untreated control. Administration of $300{\mu}g/kg$ CSLT resulted in 130% long-term increased survival time. The measurement of body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, viable and non-viable count indicated the efficacy of CSLT in tumor-bearing mice, there was a significant recovery in hematological profiles, and there was depletion in lipid peroxidation levels, and the antioxidant enzyme activities such as GSH, SOD and CAT were restored to near the normal levels. The CSLT was found to be devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity in the mice when animals were intraperitoneally injected with 250, 500, 750 and $1000{\mu}g/kg$ bodyweight. The treated mice showed conspicuous toxic symptoms only at a dose of $1500{\mu}g/kg$. Mortality of the animals was monitored up to 14 d post drug treatment, $1/7^{th}$ of the $LD_{50}$ dose has been considered for the optimal antineoplastic activity.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.366-372
• /
• 1991

The volatile components, normal hydrocarbons, organic acids, and nonvolatile fatty acids in the various parts of Luffa cylindrica(L.) Roemer(sponge-gourd) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. More than 150 volatile components were separated and thirty seven components were identified and quantified. The contents of essential oil were 0.05%, 0.05%, and 0.08% on a dried weight base in leaves, stem, and seeds respectively. Fruit juice and sap contained 0.06% and 0.03% oil on the fresh weight base. Twenty six components of normal hydrocarbons in leaves, stem, seed, and unripe fruit were separated, identified, and quantified. The total concentrations of the hydrocarbons were $75.5\;{\mu}g/g$ in leaf, $52.0\;{\mu}g/g$ in stem, $46.6\;{\mu}g/g$ in fruit juice, and $32.8\;{\mu}g/g$ in seed fractions. The major hydrocarbons in leaves, stem, and fruit juice were $nC_{25}$, $nC_{27}$, $nC_{29}$, and $nC_{31}$, $nC_{16}$, $nC_{17}$, $nC_{18}$, and $nC_{19}$ were abundant in seeds mainly. The concentration of malonic acid among the five organic acids was highest in leaves, stem, and flowers. Unripe fruit contained 24.5 mg/g of the five organic acids and malic and citric acids were higher. The concentrations of palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acids were higher concentration in the various parts of sponge-gourd and palmitic acid was distributed in the most parts. The concentrations of organic and fatty acids in the sap were negligible.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.129-143
• /
• 2016

The present work reports a facile, rapid and an eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Luffa acutangula (L. acutangula) leaves extract and their antibacterial and cytotoxic effects. The synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Additionally the topography, morphology and the elemental composition of the particles were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy dispersive spectrophotometric (EDS) technique and the measured particle sizes from SEM micrographs are in the range of 12.5 to 24.5nm. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was high against gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and moderate against gram negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Further, the cytotoxic effects of synthesized AgNPs were evaluated against Human Breast Cancer (MCF 7) cell line.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.329-335
• /
• 2015

This study was performed to determine the optimal ratio of Petasites japonicus, Luffa cylindrica, and Houttuynia cordata, all of which are supposed to have anti-respiratory disease effects, such as against rhinitis. The experiment incorporated a mixture design and included 12 experimental points with center replicates for three different independent variables (Petasites japonicus 30~70%; Luffa cylindrica 10~30%; and Houttuynia cordata 10~30%). Based on this design, the mixture was extracted in hot water at 121℃ for 45 min and anti-allergy and anti-microbial activities were observed. The response surface and trace plot described for the anti-allergy activity showed Petasites japonicas was a relatively important factor. The correlation coefficient (R²) value 82.10% for the inhibition effect of degranulation was analyzed by the regression equation. The analysis of variance showed the model fit was statistically significant (p<0.05). The optimal ratio of the mixture was Petasites japonicus 0.75%, Luffa cylindrica 0.11%, and Houttuynia cordata 0.14%. The anti-microbial activity for each extraction of the mixture was valid on gram-positive, such as Staphylococcus aureus (KCCM 40881) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (KCCM 35494), while it was less effective on gram-negative, such as Escherichia coli (KCCM 11234) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (KCCM 11328).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2012

Physiochemical characteristics of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem and antioxidant activities of its four extracts were analyzed. The chemical composition of L. Roem contained 93.69% moisture, 1.64% crude fiber, 0.52% crude protein, 0.27% crude fat, and 0.06% crude ash. The major minerals were potassium, phosphrous, and calcium. We also analyzed the major organic acids, acetic acid and succinic acid. In free amino acids, ${\beta}$-aminoisobutyric acid showed the highest concentration (100.74 mg/100 g), followed by phosphoethanolamine, urea, asparagine, and valine. Glutamic acid was the highest hydrolyzed amino acid with 1,039.99 mg/100 g followed by aspartic acid, lysine, and arginine. Four extracts from L. Roam, hot-water (LCH), cold-water (LCC), 80% ethanol (LCE), and methanol (LCM), were prepared. Total phenolic and flavonoid levels of LCE exhibited higher than three extracts. The antioxidant potential of extracts from L. Roem were investigated using DPPH, ABTS, and NBT assays. Of the four extracts, LCE had relatively high antioxidant capability on DPPH and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities (12.13%, 16.88%, and 26.61%). Based on the above results, it is suggested that an 80% ethanolic extract from L. Roem was a natural antioxidant material for health food and should be a good ingredient for functional food.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.408-414
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to improve the production of bioactive materials with antioxidant activity using a fermented Luffa aegyripia extract and improve the anticancer effect by enhancing UV absorption and inhibiting melanoma cell growth. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the fermented extract were 30.23 mg GAE/g DM and 45.12%, respectively, which was 1.4 times higher than that of the hot-water extract (HWE). The fermented extract showed a UV adsorption rate of 53.9%, which was 1.5 times higher than HWE, and it was concluded that UV absorption was increased by TPC, which was increased through the fermentation of L. aegyptiaca extracts using Lactobacillus. In the anticancer effect test, fermented and HWE extracts had carcinogenic effects of 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, respectively. This suggests that the increased antioxidant activity due to the increase in TPC caused by fermentation contributed to the anticancer effect. The UV absorption rate of fermented extracts was 2.4 times higher than HWE, giving them potential use as cosmetics and pharmaceutical materials with high polyphenol contents and antioxidant properties and skin cancer prevention.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.147-151
• /
• 2002

Seven fungicides were compared for the control of downy mildew on midge gourd. All treatments had significantly lower rates of disease progress curves and disease severity levels than that of the control. The highest yields were obtained from crops treated with metalaxyl + mancozeb, fosetyl-Al, and chlorothalonil. These treatments also proved to be the most economical considering the treatment costs.