Nutritional and Medicinal Potential ofLagenaria siceraria

Phytochemical Composition of Extracts Prepared from Dietary Cucurbits and their Cytoprotective Efficacies against Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Oxidative Stress in GI Cell-INT407

“…Extracts were found to protect gastrointestinal cells from injurious effect of H 2 O 2 by modulating the activities of cellular anti-oxidant defense system. Based on this and our previous studies on dietary cucurbits [1][2][3][4]46] it can be said that the consumption of adequate amount of these vegetables might be essentially helpful to ameliorate ROS induced gut associated pathogenesis. Enhanced nutrient uptake was previously evaluated on probiotic Lactobacilli through modulation of proton pumping ATPase activities [2] expose light towards uptake of antioxidant phytomedicines present in the extracts.…”

“…Cucurbitacins, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, ribosome inactivating proteins and several other bioactive constituents of nutritional and pharmacological importance of cucurbits have been reported and reviewed [1,17,18]. For example, Lagenaria siceraria exhibits immune modulation, antioxidants and anticancer properties [19].…”

“…Cucurbitaceae consists of nearly 100 genera and over 750 species [5][6][7][8]. Dietary intervention of these groups of plants can ameliorate various types of diseases through their prebiotics, modulation of proton pumping ATPase activity, antioxidant and immunomodulatory actions [1,2,4,9]. Despite of having immense potential to augment human health through their nutritional and medicinal effects [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], these group of plants have yet to be considered as potential therapeutic modalities by pharmaceutical industries and biomedical research funding agencies.…”

“…Cucurbits belong to Cucurbitaceae family and are rich sources of nutritional and medicinal compounds [1][2][3][4]. Cucurbitaceae consists of nearly 100 genera and over 750 species [5][6][7][8].…”

Nutraceuticals as Chemopreventive and Therapeutic agents in Gut Associated Pathogenesis

“…To maintain a healthy as well as functionally efficient Page 2 of 8 GI tract, factors that regulate various metabolic and physiological process should be balanced [26]. The main player among that factors are enteric microbiota, gastrointestinal mucosa, mucosal immunity, gut-brain axis, digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal neurosecretory hormones.…”