PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Citrullus colocynthis”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Combined toxicity of Cassia senna and Citrullus colocynthis in rats.

Body weight loss, inefficiency of feed utilization, diarrhea, ruffled hair and enterohepatonephrotoxicity were effects on male Wistar rats fed diet containing 10% Cassia senna or 10% Citrullus colocynthis ripe fruits for 6w. Rats fed a 1:1 mixture (5% + 5%) of fruits from these plants were more adversely affected and had deaths than rats fed the individual plants. The changes associated with the macrocytic hypochromic anemia and leukopenia were increased serum AST, ALT and ALP activities, increased urea, and decreased total protein, albumin and calcium. Serum bilirubin concentration did not change.

Alanine Transaminase↗

1H and 13C NMR signal assignment of cucurbitacin derivatives from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader and Ecballium elaterium L. (Cucurbitaceae).

2D NMR-derived 1H and 13C NMR signal assignments of six structurally closely related cucurbitacin derivatives are presented. The investigated 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylcucurbitacins I, J, K, and L were obtained from Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader whereas the aglyca cucurbitacin E and I were isolated from Ecballium elaterium L.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Cucurbitacin glucosides from Citrullus colocynthis.

A new cucurbitacin glucoside 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-16alpha-20R-dihydroxy-cucurbita-1,5,23E,25(26)-tetraen-3,11,22-trione (1) has been isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Citrulluscolocynthis. The structure has been assigned on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. In addition 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-cucurbitacin B (arvenin I) (2) and 2,25-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-cucurbitacin L (3) are reported for the first time from this species.

Citrullus↗

Antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects in HepG2 cells of a homeopathic remedy and its constituent plant tinctures tested separately or in combination.

Hepeel is a homeopathic remedy commonly used to treat primary and secondary functional disorders of the liver. It consists of highly diluted extracts from the following plants: Chelidonium from Chelidonium majus, L., Carduus marianus from Silybum marianum, L., Veratrum from Veratrum album L., Colocynthis from Citrullus colocynthis L., Lycopodium from Lycopodium clavatum L., Nux moschata from Myristica fragans, Houtt, and China from Cinchona pubescens, Vahl. The antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects in HepG2 hepatoblastoma cells of serial dilutions of these plant tinctures were tested, either separately or in various combinations. Upon damage of the cells with tert-butyl hydroperoxide, Carduus marianus, China and Nux moschata, in decreasing order, showed the strongest antioxidative effects. Greater than 95% inhibition of total production of malondialdehyde was reached with these three tinctures at dilutions of D4. The complete combination of the tinctures (COMB) realised in the homeopathic remedy showed an effect corresponding to the combined effects of the individual tinctures. The antiproliferative influence on the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA in normal HepG2 cells was significant (p < 0.01) but relatively weak, and decreased in the order Carduus marianus, Chelidonium, Colocynthis and Veratrum. At a dilution of D4 Colocynthis showed the strongest inhibition (13.5%). The effect of the combination of Colocynthis and Veratrum was markedly higher (22.3%) than that of the individual tinctures, but was not additive. With this combination, cell numbers were reduced. COMB had similar effects on proliferation and cell numbers, with the antiproliferative effect starting at a dilution of 1:40. The conjugation of 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene with glutathione was induced only by Carduus marianus and COMB, while all other tinctures were ineffective. Neither the individual tinctures, nor COMB showed cytotoxic effects in the dilutions tested. These results demonstrate that the complete combination (COMB) realised in the homeopathic remedy and its constituents exert specific antioxidative, antiproliferative and biochemical effects on HepG2 cells which all point to a potential hepatoprotective and tumouristatic action.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Toxicity of five Sudanese plants to young ruminants.

The toxicity of 5 Sudanese plants credited with medicinal value for man, i.e. Citrullus colocynthis, Jatropha aceroides, J. glauca, Solanum dubium and Lagenaria siceraria, was studied by giving the dried or minced plants to Nubian goats, Desert sheep or Zebu calves by mouth or stomach tube. The clinical, haematological and pathological changes indicated that all five plants reduced the ability of the liver to synthesize protein, although there was no evidence of interference with the excretion of bilirubin. Kidney dysfunction and haemoconcentration also occurred. Citrullus colocynthis and Jatropha species in doses of 0.5 to 10 g per kg per day killed goats after dosing for periods ranging from 1 day to 2 weeks. Calves were less susceptible. The fruits and leaves of L. siceraria, in doses of 1 to 5 g per kg per day, caused death after a similar period but with less regularity. The seeds were less toxic. The fruits of S. dubium in doses of 2.5 to 10 g per kg per day killed goats in 2 to 5 days. Similar doses of the leaves caused deaths in 8 to 36 days. In sheep, both fruits and leaves required a longer period of dosing to cause death.

Animals↗

Effect of sample pretreatments on the storability of ground melon 'egusi'-Colocynthis citrillus L.

In the maintenance of shelf-stability, nutritional and organoleptic properties of ground melon 'egusi'-Colocynthis citrullus L., vacuum-packaged samples were found to be better than unpackaged samples and samples treated with 0.2% butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 0.02% BHA + 0.045% sodium metabisulphite. After 56 days at 35 degrees C, stored samples showed significant differences (P < or = 0.01) in chemical composition peroxide value (PV), fungal counts and organoleptic attributes. Lipid oxidation and, to a lesser extent, fungal deterioration were responsible for the spoilage of stored ground melon kernel. The dominant fungal flora isolated from stored samples were of the genera Penicillium, Botryodiplodia, Rhizopus and Aspergillus.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole↗

Purification and properties of new ribosome-inactivating proteins with RNA N-glycosidase activity.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) similar to those already known (Stirpe & Barbieri (1986) FEBS Lett. 195, 1-8) were purified from the seeds of Asparagus officinalis (two proteins, asparin 1 and 2), of Citrullus colocynthis (two proteins, colocin 1 and 2), of Lychnis chalcedonica (lychnin) and of Manihot palmata (mapalmin), from the roots of Phytolacca americana (pokeweed antiviral protein from roots, PAP-R) and from the leaves of Bryonia dioica (bryodin-L). The two latter proteins can be considered as isoforms, respectively, of previously purified PAP, from the leaves of P. americana, and of bryodin-R, from the roots of B. dioica. All proteins have an Mr at approx, 30,000, and an alkaline isoelectric point. Bryodin-L, colocins, lychnin and mapalmin are glycoproteins. All RIPs inhibit protein synthesis by a rabbit reticulocyte lysate and phenylalanine polymerization by isolated ribosomes and alter rRNA in a similar manner as the A-chain of ricin and related toxins (Endo et al. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5908-5912).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Natural occurrence of moulds and aflatoxin B1 in melon seeds from markets in Nigeria.

Shelled melon seeds (Colocynthis citrullus L.) were purchased from markets in randomly selected villages and towns in three states in each of the rain forest (Ogun, Oyo and Osun) and Northern guinea savanna (Kaduna, Niger and Bauchi) zones of Nigeria. The seed samples were analysed for incidence of visibly diseased seeds, moisture content, moulds and aflatoxin B1 contamination. The incidence of diseased seeds ranged from 6.4% to 50.4% in the forest, and 4.3% to 34.3% in the savanna, and the moisture content was 5.6% to 12.6% and 4.5% to 10.3%, respectively. Mould evaluation revealed that Aspergillus was the most frequent genus, followed by Penicillium, Botryodiplodia, Cladosporium and Rhizopus in decreasing sequential order. Aspergillus flavus had the highest individual count in melon seed from both zones. Aflatoxin B1 was detected at levels above 5 microg/kg in 32.2% of samples, while only 3.5% of the samples contained the toxin above the 20 microg/kg Nigerian tolerance level in food. The percentage of samples contaminated with aflatoxin B1 was statistically comparable for the pooled data of villages and towns. The median level of aflatoxin B1 was less than 5 microg/kg in the seed samples, while the mean aflatoxin B1 levels was 14.1 microg/kg in the forest and 13.0 microg/kg in the savanna samples.

Aflatoxin B1↗

An inventory of the ethnobotanicals used as anthelmintics in the southern Punjab (Pakistan).

A survey was conducted in southern Punjab, Pakistan, in order to document existing ethnobotanical knowledge by the herdsmen/key respondents about anthelmintics in ruminants. A 3-satge process was used to document the plants being used to treat and/or control helminthes. This paper describes 29 plants to treat helminthosis in ruminants. The main plants used were Lamium amplexicaule L., Mallotus philippinensis Muell., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. A few of these plants have been scientifically validated for their claim by herdsmen on modern lines while majority of them still needs investigations. This documentation could provide a foundation for the scientific study and verification of those plants which merit such study.

Animals↗

Ethnopharmacological survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of hypertension and diabetes in south-eastern Morocco (Errachidia province).

This survey was undertaken in the Errachidia province in south-eastern Morocco in order to inventory the main medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Four hundred individuals who knew about and/or had used the medicinal plants for the indicated diseases, including some herbal healers, were interviewed throughout different regions of the province. The inventory of medicinal plants is summarized in a synoptic table, which contains the scientific, vernacular and common name of the plant, its ecological distribution, the part of the plant and the preparation used and the therapeutic indication. Extensive investigations have brought to light 64 medicinal plants belonging to 33 families; of these, 45 are used for diabetes, 36 for hypertension, and 18 for both diseases. Of these plants, 34% grow in the wild, 44% are cultivated, and 22% are not indigenous to the area and are brought from other parts of Morocco or from outside the country. The survey shows that 78% of the patients regularly use these medicinal plants. In this region, the most frequently used plants to treat diabetes include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Artemisia herba-alba, Carum carvi, Lepidium sativum, Nigella sativa, Olea europaea, Peganum harmala, Phoenix dactylifera, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Zygophyllum gaetulum, and those to treat hypertension include Ajuga iva, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Carum carvi, Nigella sativa, Olea europea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Origanum majorana, Peganum harmala, and Phoenix dactylifera. The local people recognize the toxic plants and are very careful in using such plants, which are Citrullus colocynthis, Datura stramonium, Nerium oleander, Nigella sativa, Peganum harmala and Zygophyllum gaetulum. Our survey shows that traditional medicine in the south-eastern Moroccan population has not only survived but has thrived in the transcultural environment and intermixture of many ethnic traditions and beliefs.

Anti-Infective Agents↗