BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Zehneria japonica belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family which is one of the most important plant families. It is commonly known as "Pipinong-gubat," widely distributed in Central Luzon regions and in areas along streams and clearings at low and medium altitudes in the Philippines. This study aimed to evaluate the potential cytotoxic and angiosuppressive properties of Zehneria japonica (Thunb. ex Murray) S.K. Chen (Cucurbitaceae) leaf extracts.

METHODOLOGY: The Z japonica semi-crude extracts were obtained by sequential extraction using hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. A modified duck egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was aided by AngioQuant, a digital imaging software used to evaluate angiogenic activity. Inhibition of angiogenesis was evaluated by percent increase or decrease in mean length of blood vessels, mean size of blood vessels, and total number of blood vessel junctions. Moreover, the cytotoxic effects of the extracts were determined through MTT Assay. Osteosarcoma (U20s) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were used as cancer representatives while human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used as the normal cell control.

RESULTS: Analysis with AngioQuant revealed that treatment of the duck egg CAM with Z. japonica semi-crude extracts suppressed angiogenesis with ICso values of 1,810.00 ug/mL, 192.50 ug/ml, and 147.70 ug/mL for hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, respectively, with Celecoxib (20 ug/mL) as the positive control. For MTT assay, Z. japonica extracts exhibited strong cytotoxic effect against U2Os with an ICso values of 19.65 ug/mL, 9.89 ug/ml, and 31.04 ve/mL for the hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol extracts, and no cytotoxic effects against HepG2 with IC50 values of 770.90 ug/mL, 130.10 ug/mL and 231.60 ug/mL for the hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol extracts. Doxorubicin (0.544 ug/mL) was used as the positive control. The extracts also inhibited the growth of the normal cells, with IC50 values of 69.46 ng/mL, 42.23 ug/mL and 63.44 ug/mL for the hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol extracts. There were no mortality and toxic symptoms observed for 14 days after the administration of the crude butanolic extract of Z. japonica in six female Sprague Dawley rats.

CONCLUSION: Z. japonica crude leaf extracts exhibited angio-suppressive activity through CAM assay. In MTT assay, the extracts exhibited strong cytotoxicity in U20s (IC50 S20 ug/mL), no cytotoxic effect in HepG2 (ICso >100 ug/mL) cells, and mild cytotoxic effect in HUVEC (IC50 40-60 ug/mL). Phytochemical screening through TLC revealed that the extracts contain alkaloids, anthrones, flavonoids, and sterols. 

Recently, a severe slime mold infestation affected oriental melon plants in fields in Chilgok county, Gyeongbuk province, Korea. Specimens were collected from the fields and examined for identification. A species of Myxomycetes, Fuligo gyrosa, was identified based on its morphological characteristics. This is the first report that F. gyrosa causes slime mold of oriental melon.
Cucurbitaceae ; Fungi ; Korea ; Myxomycetes

The leaves of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem (Cucurbitaceae) were extracted with ethanol to afford a 2/1 extract which was proved to contain flavonoids, coumarins and triterpenic saponins. The in vitro analysis showed that the extract has a good inhibitory effect against streptococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, and especially against Candida albicans. The investigation for treating grade II burn injuries was performed on rabbits. The extract repidly cleaned the wound, stimulated the epithelialization of the injury, accelerated the vascularization of the fiber cells. The healing course in experimental rabbits was significantly faster than in the animals of the control group
Burns ; Medicine, Traditional ; Cucurbitaceae ; Therapeutics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between the net photosynthetic rate and the quality of Siraitia grosvenorii.

METHODTaken two species of S. grosvenorii: Yongqing No. 1 and Yehong No. 1 as the experimental material, CI-310 portable photosynthesis system was used to test the net photosynthetic rate in the late growth period; HPLC was used to determine momordica-glycosides V.

RESULTLight compensation point of Yongqing No. 1 was lower than that of Yehong No. 1 and the light saturation point was identical, the weight of dried fruit and the content of momordica-glycosides V of Yongqing No. 1 were higher than those of Yehong No. 1 at the late growth period.

CONCLUSIONThe net photosynthetic rate can be used as an important subservient index to assess the quality of S. grosvenorii.

This project is to study chemical compositions from the stems of Herpetospermum pedunculosum. Twenty-two compounds were isolated from the 70% acetone extract of the stems of H. pedunculosum by column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20, semi-preparative HPLC and preparative TLC. Their structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data as N-benzyltyramine(1), α-spinasterol(2),(2S)-1-O-heptatriacontanoyl glycerol(3), 5,7-dihydroxychromanone(4), methyl 2β,3β-dihydroxy-D:C-friedoolean-8-en-29-oate(5), p-hydroxy benzyl alcohol(6), p-hydroxybenzoate(7), p-hydroxy cinnamic acid(8), 1H-indol-3-carboxylic acid(9), rhodiocyanoside B(10), rhodiolgin(11), rhodiosin(12), 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoic acid(13), cylo-(Tyr-Leu)(14), matteflavoside A(15), loliolide(16), 1H-indol-3-carboxaldehyde(17),(+)-dehydrovomifoliol(18), 3-hydroxy-5α,6α-epoxy-β-ionone(19), 3-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4-(3-hydroxy-1-propen-1-yl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]-1-propanone(20), 7-en-nonadecanoic acid monoglyceride(21), vanillic acid(22). Compound 1 is a new natural product, while compounds 3-15 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cucurbitaceae

Bolbostemma paniculatum is a commonly used Chinese medicinal material effective in clearing heat, removing toxin, eliminating phlegm, and alleviating swelling. The anti-tumor activity it possesses makes it a research hotspot. At present, 76 compounds have been isolated from B. paniculatum, including triterpenoids, sterols, alkaloids, anthraquinones, organic acids, etc., with anti-tumor, antiviral, and immunosuppressive pharmacological activities. This study reviewed the research on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of B. paniculatum over the past 20 years, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the research on the pharmacodynamic material basis and promote the development and utilization of B. paniculatum.
Cucurbitaceae ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Edema ; Triterpenes

OBJECTIVETo study the biological characteristics and find out the optimum condition for germination of seed of Thladiantha dubia Bunge for its standardized culturing.

METHODThe weight per 1 000 seeds, seed moisture content and seed viability were determined. The biological characteristics were studied and germination conditions of seed of T. dubia were tested under following conditions: different seed soaking time, different temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 degrees C) and different irradiation time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 min).

RESULTThe average length, width and thickness of T. Dubia seed were 4.96, 3.25 and 1.08 mm, respectively. The weight per 1 000 seeds was 14.03 g; the seed moisture content was 10.10%; the seed viability was 90.33%. Under the same condition of light, temperature and other factors, the seed germination percentage and germination energy were the highest after seed soaking 24 h. The suitable temperature range of seeds was form 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C. Under different irradiation time, the seed germination percentage and germination energy were the highest after irradiation 10 min. In different germinating beds, the seeds germination percentage and germination energy were the highest on paper (TP), which was 89.33%.

CONCLUSIONThe optimum condition for the germination of the seed of T. dubia is seed soaking 12 h, irradiation 10 min, 25-30 degrees C on filter paper.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the fruits of Siraitia grosvenorii.

METHODIsolation and purification of the constituents were carried out on column chromatography. Their structures were identified by NMR and MS spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated and elucidated as mogroside IIIA1 (1), siamenoside I (2), mogroside IVa (3), mogroside IVe (4), mogroside V (5) and 11-oxo-mogroside V(6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 1, mogrol-24-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1 --> 2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1 --> 6) ]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, was identified as a new natural product from the fruits of S. grosvenorii.

This paper aims to investigate the chemical constituents of the seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum. One new coumarin and two known lignans were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the seeds of H. pedunculosum with thin layer chromatography(TLC), silica gel column chromatography, Sephedax LH-20 chromatography, Semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography and recrystallization, etc. Their structures were elucidated as herpetolide H(1), phyllanglaucin B(2), and buddlenol E(3) by analysis of their physicochemical properties and spectral data. Among them, compound 1 was a new compound, and compounds 2 and 3 were isolated from this genus for the first time. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity test showed that herpetolide H had certain NO inhibitory activity for LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, with its IC_(50) value of(46.57±3.28) μmol·L~(-1).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coumarins/pharmacology* ; Cucurbitaceae ; Lignans ; Seeds

OBJECTIVETo establish the growth curve of Siraitia grosvenorii and analyze the correlation between seed and growth of fruit.

METHODThe growth curve fitting function was applied for the study of correlation between seed and fruit growth.

RESULTThe significant positive correlation existed between seed and horizontal diameter x vertical diameter, not between seed and flesh weight of single fruit.

CONCLUSIONThe growth curve is a reciprocal function, and seed is one of major factors to influencing the size of fruits and the shape of fruit.