We exploited the potential of cucurbits for ectopic gene expression. Agroinfiltration is a simple and commonly used method to obtain transient expression of foreign genes in plants. In contrast to in vitro transformation techniques, agroinfiltration can be used for genetic modification of mature plant tissues. Although the cucurbits are commonly used as model plants for molecular biology and bi...

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...

High fidelity calcium carbonate and hydroxyapatite (bio) inorganic replicas of the fibrous network of the dried fruit of Luffa cylindrica are described, utilizing a facile synthetic route. The loofa sponge is a highly complex macroscopic architectural template, an inexpensive and sustainable resource. In the context of the morphosynthesis, the capability of replication of the loofa sponge opens...

Nucleotide sequences were determined for two hop stunt viroid-related Group II citrus viroids characterized as either a cachexia disease non-pathogenic variant (CVd-IIa) or a pathogenic variant (CVd-IIb). Sequence identity between the two variants of 95.6% indicated a conserved genome with the principal region of nucleotide difference clustered in the variable (V) domain. Full-length viroid RT-...

Luffa cylindrica belongs to the family cucurbitaceae is an economically important plant widely grown for its vegetable purpose,but the plant as a whole is able to cure many of the skin diseases,thus possess medicinal importance also. In the present study callus multiplication of the luffa from the leaf explant have been investigated with different concentrations of auxin (NAA) with cytokinine (...

The structures of two new cucurbitacin glucosides designated opercurins A (1) and B (2), isolated from the fruit of Luffa operculata, have been confirmed by extensive spectroscopic investigation.

As a result of his botanical explorations in northern Australia, Ferdinand von Mueller named several Cucurbitaceae that molecular data now show to be distinct, requiring their resurrection from unjustified synonymy. We here describe and illustrate Luffa saccata F. Muell. ex I.Telford, validating a manuscript name listed under Luffa graveolens Roxb. since 1859, and we lectotypify Cucumis picroca...

Different extracts of L. cylindrica were taken for anthelmintic activity against Indian earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Two concentrations (50 and 100 mg/ml) of various extracts were tested and results were expressed in terms of time for paralysis and time for death of worms. Albendazole (20 mg/ml) was used as reference standard and carboxy methyl cellulose (0.5%) as a control group. Dose depende...

this study was devoted to the development of pulp luffa cclindrica and its characterization paper (annual plant fiber of the family cucurbitaceae). baking at soda helps to achieve a high level of delignification (kappa ≤ 10) and high yield (≈ 67%).the beatability stack valley is comparable to refined wood fibers, the fibers develop a normally time with good hydrophilic properties without excess...

LUFFACHITIN obtained from the residue of the sponge-like dried fruit of Luffa aegyptiaca was developed as a weavable skin substitute in this study. A chemical analysis revealed that LUFFACHITIN was composed of a copolymer containing N-acetyl-glucosamine (~40%) as a major monomer with a filamentary structure as demonstrated by both optical and scanning electron microscopy. The pulp-like white re...