Molecular cloning of the structural gene for adenylate cyclase (cya) of the cyanobacterium Anabaena cylindrica was carried out by complementation of an Escherichia coli strain defective in the cya gene. The cya-defective strain produced significant amounts of cyclic AMP when it was transformed with the cya gene isolated from A. cylindrica. This gene encodes a polypeptide consisting of 502 amino...

In vitro studies were carried out to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Luffa acutangula against human neuronal glioblastoma cells (U343) and human lung cancer cells (A549). Screening of these extracts was done using the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, MTT assay and SRB assay. The results showed the significant decrease of the viability of the cells in a ...

CONTEXT The fruit pulp of Luffa cylindrica Roemer (Cucurbitaceae) (LC) has been used to induce hemostasis, resolve phlegm and clear fever in traditional Korean medicine. However, the efficacy of LC has not been examined in atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE A 70% ethanol extract of LC was evaluated to determine anti-inflammation and anti-AD effects in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS...

UNLABELLED Luffa operculata is the botanical name of buchinha-do-norte or cabacinha, which is a medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. In Europe and USA, it is available in homeopathic medicines. In Brazil, Luffa operculata dry fruit infusion is inhaled or instilled into the nose releasing profuse mucous secretion, thus relieving nasal symptoms. Neverthele...