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

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.702-709
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• 2014

Luffa cylindrica Roem (sponge gourd) belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and has been cultivated as an ornamental plant in Korea. Recently, its cultivation area has been increased with an increase in demand for it as an ingredient in cosmetics, herbal medicines, and health supplements. We analyzed inorganic components of sap collected from land race sponge gourds. We also measured antioxidant enzyme activities and antimicrobial activities of the plant, seed, and sap to examine functional properties of sponge gourd. The sap of the sponge gourd contained high levels of K, Ca, P, and Mg, with the most abundant mineral in the sap being K ($470mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). The amounts of Ca and Mg were 2 and 1.7 times more than those found in cucumber (Cucumis sativus), respectively. Ascorbate peroxidase was more active than catalase and superoxide dismutase in various plant parts of sponge gourd. Antioxidant activities were much lower in stems than in other plant parts such as leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, and sap. In addition, sap showed a very low level of antimicrobial activity against two food-borne pathogens, Vibrio parahaemdyticus and Propionibacterium acne, and none against the other eight tested food-borne pathogens. Antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans and Malassezia furfur, which causes dermatitis, appeared to be higher in sap than in other parts of sponge gourd plants. Overall, the antimicrobial activity against Malassezia furfur appeared to be higher than against Candida albicans.