Phytochemical investigation, antioxidant and wound healing activities of Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple)

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.

Preparation and Characterization of Alkyd Resins Based on Citrullus colocynthis Seed Oil

In this study,different samples of alkyd resins based on Citrullus colocynthis seed oil(CCSO)—which has a high content of linoleic acid—were prepared as a renewable raw material.Short(I),medium(II),and long(III)alkyd resins were synthesized using oil,glycerol,and phthalic anhydride(PA)in different proportions.Prunus mahaleb seed oil(PMSO),which contains conjugated linolenic acid,was blended with CCSO in different proportions to examine the effect of PMSO on the film properties of alkyd resins(IV and V).All synthesized resins were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis.These resins were also cured by an epoxy resin and their film properties(pencil hardness,adhesion,gloss,and chemical resistance)were determined.Analysis of these alkyds reveals that CCSO can be used as a new potential raw material for coating applications.

Effects of Citrullus colocynthis Seed Aqueous Extracts upon Sodium Transport across A6 Kidney Cell Monolayers

Background:Various extracts from Citrullus colocynthis seeds were recently examined for their possible favorable effects on glucose homeostasis,other metabolic variables,and pancreatic islet size in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Objective:Considering the effectiveness of insulin upon target cells as another process susceptible to be influenced by plant extracts,the present study is used to compare the effects of either crude or defatted aqueous extracts from C.colocynthis seeds upon Na+transport in A6 kidney cells.Method:The intensity of electrical currents,taken as the potential difference divided by the epithelial resistance was measured in monolayers of A6 kidney cells exposed at the basolateral side to either crude untreated aqueous(EI)or defatted aqueous(EII)extracts,as well as their fractions EI1 and EII1 containing components with high molecular weight(>5 kDa),and EI2 and EII2 containing components with low molecular weight(<5 kDa).The effect of insulin was to assess the functional integrity of the A6 monolayer.Results:All extracts caused a rapid and sustained increase in current intensity.The defatted aqueous extract(EII)was more efficient than the non-defatted aqueous extract(EI)in terms of increasing the intensity of current in the A6 monolayer.The components of the defatted aqueous extract responsible for such a greater efficiency were located in the fraction containing components with low molecular weight and acted in a time-related progressive fashion upon Na+transport.Conclusion:These data suggest that colocynth seed extracts mainly containing components with low molecular weight increased the current intensity in A6 cells,thus suggesting that colocynth may affect Na+transport in kidney cells.

A New Flavone C-glycoside from Citrullus colocynthis

Objective To study the chemical constituents of Citrullus colocynthis. Methods The 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. Results Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as β-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). Conclusion Compound 6 is a novel compound. Compounds 1-5, 7, 9, and 10 are isolated from C. colocynthis for the first time.

Protection of Citrullus colocynthis Fruit Extracts on Carbon Tetrachloride-induced and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin plus Lipopolysaccharide-induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

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 CCl4toxicity 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.