Evaluation of bioactivity of Cucurbita pepo L., Cucumis melo L. and Cucumis sativus L. seed extracts

The herbal family Cucurbitaceae are rich in nutrients as well as compounds of medicinal interest viz. taxols and microtubule inhibitors, particularly against cancer. Here, we evaluated the cytotoxic, antimitotic, and antiproliferative properties of n-hexane and petroleum ether seed extracts of pumpkin Cucurbita pepo L. (CP), Muskmelon Cucumis melo L. (CM) and cucumber Cucumis sativus L. (CS). The cytotoxic activity was determined using brine shrimp lethality bioassay, antimitotic activity was determined using Allium cepa root growth inhibition test and Vigna radiata (green gram) germination test, and antiproliferative activity was determined by cell viability assay using yeast model on the extracts. The extracts showed positive concentration dependent cytotoxicity towards brine shrimp. The LC50 values for n-hexane extracts of CP, CM and CS were 750, 250 and 500 µg/mL, respectively, and for petroleum ether extracts, the LC50 values were 500, 500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. Good root growth inhibition of Allium cepa was observed for both the extracts of CP, CM and CS with the efficient concentration (EC50) values 500, 500, 250 ppm and 500, 250, 500 ppm, respectively. Antimitotic activity of extracts showed significant inhibition of imbibition morphologically. Percentage of inhibition for n-hexane extracts of CP, CM, CS were 119.9, 121.7, 108.7% and that for petroleum ether extracts of CP, CM, CS were 58, 58.41, 61.28%, respectively. Antiproliferative assay using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) model showed good concentration-dependent inhibition of yeast cell growth. The percentage of cell inhibition for n-hexane extract of CP (1, 2, 3 mg/mL) was 75, 82.7 and 95.6%, respectively. For CM, it was 75.8, 84.3 and 97.6% while that for CS, it was 72.9, 81.7 and 92.5%, respectively. The percentage of cell inhibition for petroleum ether extract of CP (1, 2, 3 mg/mL) was 70.5, 76.4 and 90.1%, respectively. For CM, it was 72.3, 78.8 and 91.9% while that for CS, it was 72.7, 82.1 and 93.1, respectively. The results have demonstrated significant cytotoxic, antimitotic and antiproliferative activity of the seed extracts of Cucurbita pepo, Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus.

Carbohydrate Vaccines- A burgeoning field of Glycomics.

Glycomics is the study that deals with the structures and functions of carbohydrates. The discovery Of novel and increasing number of numerous biological roles of carbohydrates , glycomics has explored the field of carbohydrate vaccines. Glycoconjugate vaccines in which the cell surface carbohydrate from a microorganism is covalently attached to a carrier protein are proving to be highly effective in generating protective immune responses to prevent a wide range of diseases. The carbohydrate based agents – glycoproteins and polysaccharides can be difficult to isolate from natural sources and the natural isolates can have heterogeneity and contamination. So, the alternative would be to identify antigenic carbohydrates and then synthesize them in the laboratory. Novel chemical and enzymatic oligosaccharide techniques are making it possible to envision a new generation of carbohydrate based vaccines. Carbohydrate vaccines have leading roles in cancer, haemophilus influenza B, malaria, candidiasis, AIDS etc. The present article focuses on the potential of carbohydrate vaccines, thus paving the way for development in the field of glycomics.

Comparative antioxidant studies of cassia auriculata plant parts.

Comparative antioxidant studies were carried out for methanolic extract of Cassia auriculata flowers, leaves and roots for proving its utility in inflammation and healing mechanism. The methanolic extracts were screened for antioxidant activity by nitric oxide radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition and DPPH methods at different concentrations. Throughout the studies flowers extract showed marked antioxidant activity compared to leaves and roots extract. The antioxidant activity of the flower flowers extract may be due to stabilization of plasma membrane, thereby lowering the elevated levels of serum lysosomal enzymes. The antioxidant activity was found to be concentration dependent and may be attributed to the presence of high flavanoids and bioflavonoids content in the flowers of Cassia auriculata.