Cytoprotective Effects of Pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata) Fruit Extract against Oxidative Stress and Carbonyl Stress

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder that is associated with significant mortality and morbidity due to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Diabetes complications accompanied with oxidative stress and carbonyl stress in different organs of human body because of the increased generation of free radicals and impaired antioxidant defense systems. In the meantime, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive carbonyl species (RCS) have key mediatory roles in the development and progression of diabetes complications. Therapeutic strategies have recently focused on preventing such diabetes-related abnormalities using different natural and chemical compounds. Pumpkin () is one of the most important vegetables in the world with a broad-range of pharmacological activities such as antihyperglycemic effect. In the present study, the cytoprotective effects of aqueous extract of fruit on hepatocyte cytotoxicity induced by cumene hydroperoxide (oxidative stress model) or glyoxal (carbonylation model) were investigated using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. The extract of (50 μg/ml) excellently prevented oxidative and carbonyl stress markers, including hepatocyte lysis, ROS production, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, lysosomal damage, and cellular proteolysis. In addition, protein carbonylation was prevented by in glyoxal-induced carbonyl stress. It can be concluded that has cytoprotective effects in oxidative stress and carbonyl stress models and this valuable vegetable can be considered as a suitable herbal product for the prevention of toxic subsequent of oxidative stress and carbonyl stress seen in chronic hyperglycemia.

Comparative Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Haemostatic Studies of Preparations from Selected Vegetables from Cucurbitaceae Family

“…Oxidative stress was measured by the production of intracellular reactive species [23]. In another in vitro model, Shayesteh et al [24] also demonstrated the protective effects of pumpkin fruit extract against oxidative stress. Cumene hydroperoxide and glyoxal were used as inductors of oxidative stress in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes.…”

The potential role of pumpkin seeds oil on methotrexate-induced lung toxicity

“…Several studies have highlighted the protective efficiency of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) against many diseases. Its anticancer 14 , antidiabetic 15 , antioxidant 16 , antiinflammatory 17 , cytoprotective 18 , and anti-mutagenic 19 potencies have been reported. Al-Okbi et al 17 reported that PSO significantly inhibited the elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, thereby reducing the severity of inflammation in arthritic rat model and producing significant improvements in inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers.…”

Maternal and developmental toxicity induced by Nanoalumina administration in albino rats and the potential preventive role of the pumpkin seed oil

“…Also, Pumpkin seed oil contains fatty acids: linoleic (C 18:2), oleic (C 18:1), palmitic (C 16:0) and stearic (C 18:0) ( Kulaitiene et al, 2007 ). Pumpkin has many health benefits such as antioxidant and anti-inflammation inflammation ( Chen and Huang, 2018 , Nawirska-Olszańska et al, 2013 ), cytoprotective ( Shayesteh et al, 2017 ), and anti-mutagenic actions ( Elfiky et al, 2012 ).…”