Cucurbitacin P

Cucurbitacin B exerts neuroprotection in a murine Alzheimer's disease model by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotransmitter levels.[Pubmed:35227014]

Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2022 Feb 17;27(2):71.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) type dementia encompasses diverse cognitive deficits marked by free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines mediated progressive neurodegeneration and vascular damage including the blood-brain barrier. Subsequently, an imbalance in neurotransmitters, excitotoxicity, and synaptic loss provide impetus to AD pathogenesis and perpetuate brain dysfunctions. Cucurbitacin Possesses several biological properties and has shown potential in cancer, diabetes, and brain disorders. In this study, neuroprotective effects of cucurbitacin B (CuB) were investigated using the intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (STZ-ICV) AD prototype. METHODS: Wistar rats (adult males) were injected STZ-ICV (3 mg/kg) bilaterally on day(s) 1 and 3. Rats were treated with CuB (25, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) or donepezil (1 mg/kg, i.p.) for 28 days daily starting from day 1. Behavioral tests viz. locomotor activity, motor coordination, and memory functions were conducted at different time intervals. After behavioral tests, biochemical markers of oxidative mutilation, inflammatory cell demise, and neurotransmitters were assessed in the whole brain. RESULTS: CuB attenuated STZ-ICV-induced decrease in spatial memory in novel object recognition task and long-term memory in passive avoidance test. CuB diminished protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and enhanced antioxidants in the brain of rats inoculated with STZ-ICV. A decline in inflammatory and cell death biomarkers was observed in rats treated with CuB and STZ-ICV. In neurotransmitter analysis, a decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity and glutamate levels indicated an increase in cholinergic and attenuation of excitatory transmission in the brain. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) levels were enhanced by CuB treatment in the STZ-ICV rat model. Histomorphometry analysis disclosed that CuB treatment caused an increase in viable neuron density in the cortex and hippocampus of rats against STZ-ICV neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: It can be inferred that CuB can afford a decline in AD symptoms. CuB protects neurons against STZ-ICV toxicity that improved memory functions in rats.

Interactive Effects of Filamentous Fungi and Cucurbitacin Phytonematicide on Growth of Cowpea and Suppression of Meloidogyne enterolobii.[Pubmed:35211103]

Front Microbiol. 2022 Feb 8;13:765051.

Cowpea [(Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)] is highly susceptible to the emerging guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii, with available management options being limited due to the withdrawal of effective fumigant nematicides from the agrochemical markets. Filamentous fungi, available as Biocult (a.i. Glomus species + Trichoderma asperellum Lieckf and Nirenberg) and Nemafric-BL phytonematicide (a.i. cucurbitacin B) each improves plant growth and suppresses nematode population densities. However, when filamentous fungi like Biocult are combined with other biocontrol agents, the combined effects either have synergestic or antagonistic effects on the test variables. The combined effects of Biocult and Cucurbitacin Phytonematicides on plant growth and nematode suppression remain undocumented. The objective of this study was therefore to determine the combined effects of Biocult and Nemafric-BL phytonematicide on growth of cowpea var. Eureka and suppression of M. enterolobii population densities. Eureka was subjected to the effects of the two products in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment on a field infested with M. enterolobii. At harvest, the interaction of Biocult and Nemafric-BL phytonematicide was highly significant (P