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

Abstract

Compositions of phytochemicals in aqueous extracts prepared from Lagenaria siceraria (Ls), Luffa cylindrica (Lc) and Cucurbita maxima (Cm) fruits were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 83, 72 and 74 number of phytochemicals in Ls, Lc and Cm respectively. Extracts were evaluated for their role in protection of INT407 cells against injurious effect of H2O2. MTT, LDH and colony survival assays (CSA) were employed for evaluating H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Antioxidant properties of extracts were evaluated by enzymatic assays in H2O2 induced oxidative stress in INT407 cells. LD50 and LD25 of H2O2 at 24 h on INT407 cells were evaluated and found 114.25 ± 0.24 and 64.01 ± 0.11 μM respectively. Macromolecules were found to protect INT407 in dose dependent manner (p ≤ 0.05). CSA showed enhanced growth in extracts of Lagenaria siceraria and Luffa cylindrica in comparison to Cucurbita maxima treated cells (p=0.042). H2O2 treated cells showed depleted superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities by 71.60, 68.81, 45.79 and 22.95% respectively. Lagenaria siceraria and Luffa cylindrica treated cells showed modulation of SOD by 8.88 and 8.95%, CAT by 22.34 and 14.20%, GPx by 5.56 and 1.42%, and GR by 2.20 and 3.22% respectively. Cucurbita maxima modulated CAT by 1.78%, and GR by 0.70%. Synergistic effects of phytochemicals present in these extracts were found non-toxic on INT407.