ABSTRACT
Three new cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides were separated from the ethyl acetate extract of Citrullus colocynthis by a variety of chromatographic techniques. According to the data of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and/or comparison with the reported data, the three novel cucurbitane-type triterpenoid glycosides were identified as colocynthenin E(1), colocynthenin G(2), and colocynthenin H(3). The cell inflammation model was established with RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide and then used to determine the anti-inflammatory activities of the three compounds. Compounds 2 and 3 showed mild anti-inflammatory activities with the IC_(50) of 48.21 and 40.11 μmol·L~(-1), respectively, compared with that(IC_(50)=7.57 μmol·L~(-1)) of the positive control dexamethasone.
Subject(s)
Citrullus colocynthis/chemistry , Triterpenes/chemistry , Glycosides/chemistry , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#This study investigated the biochemical, histopathological and physiological effects of Citrullus colocynthis on peripheral neuropathy in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes.@*METHODS@#Seventy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the present study. Diabetes was induced in 60 rats, with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, the diabetic rats were assessed for neuropathy. Then, the diabetic rats with neuropathy were randomly divided into 6 groups for a 4-week treatment with gabapentin, oral administration of C. colocynthis fruit pulp powder (100 and 300 mg/kg per day), topical preparations as oil-based solution and ointment, or placebo. Changes in metabolic, physiological, biochemical and histological parameters were considered as treatment outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Metabolic outcomes (body weight and blood glucose level) were improved in the C. colocynthis-treated groups as compared to placebo. Tail-flick and hot-plate tests also had lower latency in the C. colocynthis-treated groups. Measurement of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase) showed the antioxidant effect of C. colocynthis. Histological evaluation of the sciatic nerve showed that C. colocynthis decreased the number of demyelinated and degenerated nerve fibers. Among the C. colocynthis-treated groups, the one receiving 100 mg/kg power per day orally had the best treatment outcomes.@*CONCLUSION@#The present study showed that C. colocynthis fruit, through its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, has a positive effect in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
ABSTRACT
Citrullus colocynthis is widely distributed in the desert regions of the world. C. colocynthis has shown to improve constipation, liver diseases, jaundice, typhoid fever, diabetes and asthma in traditional use. As a kind of exterritorialy medicinal material, C. colocynthis has been used in China and introduced successfully. The main active ingredients of C. colocynthis are cucurbitacin, flavonoids, alkaloids and phenolic acids, which have been proven to have antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-pathogenic microorganisms and anti-cancer activities in modern pharmacological research. This paper reviews the traditional application, chemical composition and pharmacological effects of C. colocynthis, and provides reference for the in-depth study for the efficacy and mechanism of different components of C. colocynthis.
Subject(s)
China , Citrullus colocynthis/chemistry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Phytochemicals/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Aims@#The objective of the present study is to evaluate the possibility of reversing the resistance of pathogens to antibiotics using phytochemicals from plant extracts as antibiotic-adjuvant.@*Methodology and results@#Twenty-one plants were collected from Podhigai Hills, Tamil Nadu, India and tested in this study. The susceptibility of burn wound isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) to antibiotics and the adjuvant activity of the aqueous plant extracts were tested using well diffusion assay. The impact of the plant extracts on quorum sensing was assessed using Chromobacterium violaceum as the model organism. The antibiofilm activity of the adjuvant and antibiotics was determined by crystal violet assay. The isolates which were resistant to more than one class of antibiotics (aminoglycoside, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone and penicillin) were designated as multidrug resistant bacteria. Combination of cefdinir-Citrullus colocynthis showed 17 mm inhibition zone which is greater than cefdinir (0 mm) against P. aeruginosa. The combination reduced quorum sensing with an inhibition zone of 30 mm. The same combination reduced 96% and 95% of the biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively at 16 h. Besides, cefdinir with Leucas aspera reduced quorum sensing with an inhibition zone of 28 mm. The combination reduced 94% and 95% of biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively at 16 h. The aqueous extract of C. colocynthis and L. aspera revealed the presence of flavonoids that possess adjuvant activity. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Cefdinir-C. colocynthis and cefdinir-L. aspera reversed the resistance of multi drug resistant bacteria to cefdinir. The flavonoids of C. colocynthis and L. aspera served as an adjuvant that potentiates the activity of cefdinir.
Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Microbial , PhytochemicalsABSTRACT
Aims: To evaluate the composition of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad seed as a means of assessing its health and possible therapeutic benefits. Study Design: Test-tube Lab Research. Place and Duration of Study: Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Nigeria, between June 2018 and March 2019. Methodology: Intact dehulled Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad seeds were analyzed for their proximate and elemental content using standard methods and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The seed oil was extracted with n-hexane via cold maceration and the extracted oil was analyzed for its physiochemical properties. The fatty acid profile was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: The proximate analysis values were determined to be 6.51%, 51.46%, 21.62%, 13.26%, 3.76% and 3.39% for the moisture, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, ash and total carbohydrate content respectively. Results of the elemental analysis show the seed contains; 3653.0322 mg/kg Na, 6639.7818 mg/kg K, 2329.0612 mg/kg Ca, 235.6057 mg/kg Fe, 5252.5884 mg/kg Mg, 27.9056 mg/kg Zn and 7.0068 mg/kg Pb. The predominant fatty acid detected with an area percentage of 20.31 was cis-11-octadecenoic acid. Other fatty acids detected include cis-9, cis-12-octadecadienoic acid, cis-9-octadecenoic, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid and icosanoic acid. Squalene, a biosynthetic precursor of cholesterol, was detected with an area percentage of 8.54. Conclusion: The evaluation of the compositional data provided evidential support for its beneficial health impact particularly in regards to nutritional and cardio-vascular health.
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Objective: To undertake metabolite profiling of various plant parts of Citrullus colocynthis, and assess antioxidant and wound healing activities of fractions for therapeutical applications. Methods: Extracts from leaves, stem, root, fruit pulp and seeds were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Variation in antioxidant potential was assayed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The extract with highest antioxidant potential was subjected on in-vivo wound healing activity using excision wound model. Results: Metabolite profiling of Citrullus colocynthis identified 70 chemically diverse metabolites from different plant parts by using a combination of GC-MS and HPLC. Concentration of colocynthin, a principal active secondary metabolite, ranged from 3.15 mg/g dry weight to 242.00 mg/g dry weight, the lowest being in leaves and highest in fruit pulp. DPPH radical scavenging activity of free radical (IC50) ranged from 196.44 μg/mL in fruit pulp to 413.33 μg/mL in leaves tissues. Significant wound contraction and increase in hydroxyproline content of granulation tissue were observed with ointment formulated from methanolic extract of fruit pulp. Conclusions: The study indicates that the methanol extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit pulp when applied topically may promote wound contraction in rat model attributable to the accumulation of colocynthin. The high quantity of colocynthin (242.00 mg/g dry weight) and substantial concentration of 2,4-di-tert butyl phenol (3.2％), squalene (4.2％) and δ-tocopherol (2.5％) make this plant to provide new opportunities for development of medicinal, nutraceutical and dietary supplements with optimized functionality.
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Objective: To undertake metabolite profiling of various plant parts of Citrullus colocynthis, and assess antioxidant and wound healing activities of fractions for therapeutical applications. Methods: Extracts from leaves, stem, root, fruit pulp and seeds were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Variation in antioxidant potential was assayed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. The extract with highest antioxidant potential was subjected on in-vivo wound healing activity using excision wound model. Results: Metabolite profiling of Citrullus colocynthis identified 70 chemically diverse metabolites from different plant parts by using a combination of GC-MS and HPLC. Concentration of colocynthin, a principal active secondary metabolite, ranged from 3.15 mg/g dry weight to 242.00 mg/g dry weight, the lowest being in leaves and highest in fruit pulp. DPPH radical scavenging activity of free radical (IC
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Extraction and analysis of the physicochemical properties of vegetable oil from Irvigna gabonesis and Citrullus colocynthis were carried out to predict possible applications. Study Design: It was designed to extract oil from the seeds and investigate the properties to indicate their performance and potentials in industrial applications. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Biochemistry, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, between October and December, 2012. Methodology: Fresh seeds were collected, dried and ground to smaller particle size. Soxhlet apparatus method was used in extraction with petroleum ether (40-60ºC) while standard official methods were employed in the analysis. Results: The result revealed that both were oil seeds yielding Irvigna gabonesis 36.43±2.60% and Citrullus colocynthis 28.03±1.20% oil. Physicochemical properties of the oil showed that the total fatty matter in both samples were very high at about 98%. The refractive index was 1.46 and 1.43 for Citrullus colocynthis and Irvigna gabonesis respectively. The acid values of 2.02 and 20.2mgKOH/g were respectively low and high in Citrullus colocynthis and Irvigna gabonesis. The free fatty acid content of 6.97% in Irvigna gabonesis was higher than 2.15% in Citrullus colocynthis. Consequently, the peroxide value of 1.20meq/g was also higher in Irvigna gabonesis than the low amount of 0.45meq/g in Colocynthus. The iodine value of 7.90±1.00 Wij’s was low in Irvigna gabonesis compared to 114.30±1.06 Wij’s in Citrullus colocynthis. The saponification values of 208.10 and 202.90mgKOH/g were high. Conclusion: Irvigna gabonesis oil had high acid value, free fatty acids and peroxide value compared to Citrullus colocynthis. The low iodine number of the Irvigna gabonesis oil indicates high degree of saturation while the high level of iodine value in Citrullus colocynthis was indicative of high unsaturation. The saponification values showed presence of saponifiable lipids. The oils can be useful in nutrition and manufacturing industry.
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Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective activities of the extracts from Citrullus colocynthis (ECC), a native plant used as traditional Uigur Medicine on acute liver injury in mice. Methods: The activities of ECC of petroleum ether (ECCPE), chloroform (ECCC), ethyl acetate (ECCEA), n-butyl alcohol (ECCBA), and water (ECCW) were evaluated in vivo using two experimental models, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- and bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice. The contents of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum were determined and the liver histological examination was carried out, respectively. Results: The pretreatment with ECC for 7 d obviously reduced the impact of CCl4 toxicity on the serum markers of liver damage, ECCEA and ECCC with a significant difference of AST (P < 0.01, 0.05, respectively) and ALT (P < 0.05, 0.01, respectively). The protective activity was reconfirmed against BCG + LPS-induced injury and the serum enzymatic levels were obviously elevated, for ECCEA and ECCC with a significant difference of AST (P < 0.05, 0.01, respectively) and ALT (P < 0.01, 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: That ECCEA and ECCC are the potent hepatoprotective extracts that could protect liver against the acute injury, and this ability might be attributed to their hepatoprotective potentials. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.
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In present agricultural practices greenhouse gases are created in a multitude of ways. Pesticide and fertilizer applications, irrigation, lighting, transportation, and other machinery are powered by greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. The fertilizers and pesticides alone are one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. The overuse of agricultural chemicals pollutes watersheds and kills plants that could otherwise capture greenhouse gases and actually reduce global warming. Compared to conventional agriculture, organic agriculture is reported to be more efficient and effective both in reducing GHGs (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emission mainly due to the less use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Organic agriculture also reported to be climate change resilience farming systems as it promotes the proper management of soil, water, biodiversity and local knowledge there by acting as a good options for adaptation to climate change. In the present study two of the cucurbits are studied for their insecticidal acitivity against Aphids one is a wild specie Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad.and another one is cultivated specie that is Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb., both have found effective but C. colocynthis found more effective than L. Acutangula.
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Plant extracts are some of the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results for the treatment of pains, inflammations and immune-related diseases. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad., (cucurbitaceae) endemic in Tunisia, is widely used in folk medicine to treat many inflammation disorders. The aim of this study is to quantify the alkaloid level and to evaluate the acute toxicity of different populations of Citrullus colocynthis fruit aqueous extracts at immature state and then to screen their analgesic activities. After identification and acute toxicity essay, different populations of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. aqueous fruit extracts were screened for analgesic activity using the acetic acid writhing test in mice. Yields of prepared extracts and alkaloid level are gravimetrically determined. Results show that alkaloid level vary upon the Citrullus colocynthis population. All extracts displayed analgesic activity at different doses without inducing acute toxicity. Topic results were obtained with immature fruits from south Tunisia. Experimental results have revealed that Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a potentially useful drug suitable for further evaluation, and its folk medicinal use, in all Tunisia, as an analgesic agent is validated for all tested Tunisian populations.
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Background: This study was designed to identify the active contents of Citrullus colocynthis plant and to examine their teratogenicity in rats. The fruit pulp of the poisonous plant was collected randomly from Suq-Alkhamis district, Tripoli, Libya. Methods: The glucoside colocynthin was isolated by lead acetate method while the alkaloids and saponins were isolated by maceration method. These active principles were then identified by chemical tests, color reactions and thin layer chromatography. Possible teratogenic effects of the fruit pulp extract was investigated by its administration to twelve pregnant rats on the 7th day of gestation at a dose of 40.6 mg/kg body weight that is equivalent to one fourth of the LD50 of the extract. Results: Gross anatomical observation on the 20th day of gestation revealed a high percentage of resorbed fetuses, smaller size and weight fetuses as well as absence of coccygeal vertebrae, metacarpal and metatarsal bones, and carpal and tarsal bones. Conclusions: It could be concluded that the extract of fruit pulp of Citrullus colocynthis, obtained from Libya, contain glucosidal as well as other principles that may cause teratogenic effects if given during at the early stage of pregnancy.
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The fruit of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) in its dried or fresh forms is consumed by some patients of M’sila region (Algeria) for its antidiabetic, antirheumatic, antiheamorrhroids activities without considering its safety. The first step of the study was undertaken to determine the acute median lethal dose of the methanol extract. The objective of the second step was to evaluate the toxic effects of this extract at a single daily oral dose (131mg/kg) in 50 Albino rats divided into 5 experimental (A, B, C, D and E) and 1 control groups after different periods of treatment. Liver, kidney and bone marrow function test were assessed using standard techniques. The acute median lethal dose of the extract was found to be 1311,45 mg/kg. The plasma ALT, AST, urea and creatinine levels were significantly affected, an indication that the extract is hepato-nephrotoxic. The results obtained for hematological parameters reflect that methanol extract with a dose of 131 mg/kg did not affect quantitatively but disrupted qualitatively some functions of the bone marrow. The present study showed that the intake of extract of ripe Citrullus colocynthis fruit presented some adverse effects on the functions of the liver, kidney and bone marrow in rats.
ABSTRACT
Plant extracts are some of the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results for the treatment of pains, inflammations and immune-related diseases. Citrullus colocynthis Schrad., (cucurbitaceae) endemic in Tunisia, is widely used in folk medicine to treat many inflammation disorders. The aim of this study is to quantify the alkaloid level and to evaluate the acute toxicity of different populations of Citrullus colocynthis fruit aqueous extracts at immature state and then to screen their analgesic activities. After identification and acute toxicity essay, different populations of Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. aqueous fruit extracts were screened for analgesic activity using the acetic acid writhing test in mice. Yields of prepared extracts and alkaloid level are gravimetrically determined. Results show that alkaloid level vary upon the Citrullus colocynthis population. All extracts displayed analgesic activity at different doses without inducing acute toxicity. Topic results were obtained with immature fruits from south Tunisia. Experimental results have revealed that Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a potentially useful drug suitable for further evaluation, and its folk medicinal use, in all Tunisia, as an analgesic agent is validated for all tested Tunisian populations.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the phytochemical screening of different extracts from Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis ) seeds extracts and to assess their antioxidant activity on the DPPH free radical scavenging.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Phytochemical screening, total content of polyphenols and flavonoids of C. colocynthis seeds extracts, including a crude aqueous extract (E1), a defatted aqueous extract (E2), a hydromethanolic extract (HM), an ethyl acetate extract (EA) and a n-butanol extract (n-B) was carried out according to the standard methods and to assess their corresponding effect on the antioxidant activity of this plant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>None of these extracts contained detectable amount of alkaloid, quinone, antraquinone, or reducing sugar. Catechic tannins and flavonoids were abundant in E1, HM and EA, whilst terpenoids were abundantly present in E1 and n-B but only weekly in HM. Coumarins were found in E2, EA and n-B. Polyphenols, expressed as gallic acid equivalent, amounted, per 100 g plant matter, to 329, 1002 and 150 mg in EA, HM an E1 respectively. Flavonoids, expressed as catechin equivalent, amounted, per 100 g plant matter to 620, 241 and 94 mg in EA, HM and E1 respectively. Comparable values were found in n-B and E1, with lower values in E2. Quercetin, myricetin and gallic acid were found in the EA and HM extracts by thin layer chromatography, The antioxidative effect of these extracts yielded, when tested at a concentration of 2 000 µg/mL in a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, a reducing percentage of 88.8% with EA, 74.5% with HM and 66.2% with E1, and corresponding IC50 of 350, 580 and 500 µg/mL as compared to 1.1 µg/mL for ascorbic acid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These qualitative and quantitative analytical data document the presence in C. colocynthis extracts of such chemical compounds as flavonoids responsible for the antioxidant activity, as well as other biological activities of this plant.</p>
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Biphenyl Compounds , Chemistry , Citrullus colocynthis , Chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Oxidation-Reduction , Picrates , Chemistry , Plant Extracts , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Seeds , ChemistryABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo study the chemical constituents of Citrullus colocynthis.MethodsThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and recrystallization as well.NMR spectra and physicochemical property were characterized for structural identification.ResultsEleven compounds wereisolatedandidentifiedasβ-sitosterol(1), α-spinasterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(2),α-spinasterone (3),bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (4),p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5),6-C-p-methylbenzoylvitexin (6),dihydrocucurbitacin E (7),cucurbitacin E (8),dihydro-epi-iso-cucurbitacin D (9),dihydroisocucurbitacin B-25-acaetate (10),and cucurbitacin E 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11).ConclusionCompound 6 is a novel compound.Compounds 1-5,7,9,and 10 are isolated from C.colocynthis for the first time.
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Antifungal activity of the oils extracts of Citrullus colocynthis L., Linum usitatissimum L., Nigella sativa L. collected from Bechar Department in the region of (Algeria) has been evaluated in this present study. Two methods were used in this investigation: radial growth on solid medium and biomass on liquid medium. The oils extracts were obtained by Soxhlet extraction of the seeds part. The values of physicochemical indices of our oils such as acid, acidity and peroxide were also determined. The results of the antifungal potency revealed that the seeds oils exhibited different degrees of inhibition against Aspergillus flavus MTTC 2799. However, evaluation of radial growth on Potatoes Dextrose Agar (PDA) solid medium showed slight mycelial growth proportional to oil concentration added to the medium. Antifungal indices investigation allowed as to put our oils in the order of effectiveness: L. usitatissimum (29%) > C. colocynthis (26.5 %) > N. sativa (18.75 %). Evaluation of Aspergillus flavus biomass production on Potatoes Dextrose Broth (PDB) on liquid medium revealed that the studied oils produced a variable weight reduction (C. colocynthis and L. usitatissimum at concentration superior to (80μl/ml). On the contrary, N. sativa oil reduced Aspergillus flavus biomass at concentrations of 80μl/ml and 100μl/ml.
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Hyperlipidemia is a well-known risk factor for several illnesses including atherosclerosis, heart and vascular diseases and stroke. In the search for potential anti-hyperlipidemic agents from plants to prevent these conditions, the pulp and the seeds of Citrullus colocynthis were assessed for their effects on the lipid profile of hyperlipidemic New Zealand rabbits. In the experimental groups that received the pulp of C. colocynthis or 100 mg/kg of seeds, the lipid profiles were significantly reduced when compared to the control group (P<0.05).
Hiperlipidemia é um fator de risco bem conhecido para diversas doenças inclusive aterosclerose, doenças cardíacas e derrame cerebral. Na procura de potenciais agentes antihiperlipidêmicos a partir de plantas para prevenir essas doenças, a polpa e as sementes de Citrullus colocynthis foram testadas para verificar seus efeitos no perfil lipídico de coelhos Nova Zelândia hiperlipidêmicos. Nos grupos experimentais que receberam a polpa de C. colocynthis ou 100 mg/kg das sementes, os perfis lipídicos foram significantemente reduzidos quando comparados ao grupo de controle (P<0,05).