EFSA Compendium of Botanicals

Draft - work in progress

Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn.

Family:: Cucurbitaceae
Approval state:: Approved
Number of articles retrieved:: 96
Number of processed references:: 9

Compositions

#1: luperosides I, J, K, L #2: chrysophanol #3: emodin #4: Cucurbitacins (neocucurbitacine A and B) #5: Cucurbitacins (Opercurin A and B) #6: Cucurbitacin B #7: Isocucurbitacin B

Endpoint Studies

#1: Reduction in birth rate in mice, records of poisoning in women. #2: Three deaths reported in interviews related with the use of L. operculata as a herbal medicine

Genotoxicity

#1: IP injection of L.opericulata infusion showed chromosomal alterations (polyploidy, C-metaphases and endoreduplication) in bone marrow cells of the treated Wistar rat.

Composition #1: Okabe, Hikaru., Nagao, Tsuneatsu., Hachiyama, Shizuko., Yamauchi, Tatsuo. Studies on the constituents of Luffa operculata Cogn. II. Isolation and structure elucidation of saponins in the herb. Chemical Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1989, p. 895–900. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Unspecified (A07XD)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

Methanol
Substance:

pentacyclic triterpene saponins (RF-00004334-PAR)
Additional substance description:

luperosides I, J, K, L
Analytical method code:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Liquid Chromatography (LC) (F018A)
Analytical method - additional description:

GLC
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

luperosides I, J, K, L

Composition #2: de Sousa, Cleia R., Monte, Francisco J. Q. Isolation and identification of two quinones from stems of Luffa operculata Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae). Revista Latinoamericana de Quimica, 2009, p. 201–205. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Stem / stalk (as part-nature) (A067S)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

Hexane and ethanol
Substance:

chrysophanol (RF-00003737-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Standard Chromatographic tests (paper- thin layer- and column chromatography) (F016A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

chrysophanol

Composition #3: de Sousa, Cleia R., Monte, Francisco J. Q. Isolation and identification of two quinones from stems of Luffa operculata Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae). Revista Latinoamericana de Quimica, 2009, p. 201–205. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Stem / stalk (as part-nature) (A067S)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

Hexane and ethanol
Substance:

Emodin (RF-00003798-PAR)
Analytical method code:

Standard Chromatographic tests (paper- thin layer- and column chromatography) (F016A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

emodin

Composition #4: Kawahara, N., Kurata, A., Hakamatsuka, T., Sekita, S., Satake, M. Two novel cucurbitacins, neocucurbitacins A and B, from the Brazilian folk medicine "Buchinha" (Luffa operculata) and their effect on PEBP2 alpha A and OCIF gene expression in a human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cell line. CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, 2001, vol. 49, no. 10, p. 1377–1379. DOI: 10.1248/cpb.49.1377. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Fruit unspecified (as part-nature) (A067D)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

Methanol
Substance:

cucurbitacins (RF-00004352-PAR)
Additional substance description:

Neocucurbitacines A and B
Analytical method code:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)/Liquid Chromatography (LC) (F018A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Cucurbitacins (neocucurbitacine A and B)

Composition #5: Kawahara, N., Kurata, A., Hakamatsuka, T., Sekita, S., Satake, M. Two new cucurbitacin glucosides, opercurins A and B, from the Brazilian folk medicine "Buchinha" (Luffa operculata). CHEMICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN, 2004, vol. 52, no. 8, p. 1018–1020. DOI: 10.1248/cpb.52.1018. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Fruit unspecified (as part-nature) (A067D)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

Methanol
Substance:

cucurbitacins (RF-00004352-PAR)
Additional substance description:

Opercurin A and B
Analytical method code:

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (F061A)
Analytical method - additional description:

C and H NMR
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Cucurbitacins (Opercurin A and B)

Composition #6: Lang, Karen Luise., Silva, Izabella Thais., Zimmermann, Lara Almida., Machado, Vanessa Rocha., Teixeira, Marina Rodrigues., Ivana Lapuh, Maria., Alejandra Galetti, Mariana., Alejandro Palermo, Jorge., Myriam Cabrera, Gabriela., Campos Bernardes, Lilian Sibelle., Oliveira Simoes, Claudia Maria., Schenkel, Eloir Paulo., Balparda Caro, Miguel Soriano., Javier Duran, Fernando. Synthesis and cytotoxic activity evaluation of dihydrocucurbitacin B and cucurbitacin B derivatives . bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 2012, vol. 20, no. 9, p. 3016–3030. DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2012.03.001. [DOI link]

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Fruit unspecified (as part-nature) (A067D)
Extraction/Preparation method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional extraction description:

dichloromethane
Substance:

cucurbitacin B (RF-00004232-PAR)
Additional substance description:

Amarine is a synonym of cucurbitacin B
Analytical method code:

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (F061A)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Cucurbitacin B

Composition #7: MATOS, FJD., GOTTLIEB, OR. ISOCUCURBITACINE B CYTOTOXIC CONSTITUANT OF LUFFA OPERCULATA. anais da academia brasileira de ciencias, 1967, vol. 39, no. 2, p. 245–&. .

Language:

English (en)
Plant part:

Unspecified (A07XD)
Substance:

Isocucurbitacin B (RF-00011250-PAR)
Yes/No Qualitative:

Positive/Present (POS)
Result type:

Qualitative Value (Binary) (BIN)
Internal remarks:

Isocucurbitacin B

Endpoint study #1: Costa, K.C.S., Bezerra, S.B., Norte, C.M., Nunes, L.M.N., de Olinda, T.M. Medicinal plants with teratogenic potential: Current considerations. brazilian journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 2012, vol. 48, no. 3, p. 427–433. DOI: 10.1590/S1984-82502012000300009. [DOI link]

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Fruit unspecified (as part-nature) (A067D)
Preparation/Extraction method:

Solvent extraction (A0BZR)
Additional plant/substance description:

decoction
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

House mouse (as animal) (A0CNT)
Sex:

Female
Control groups used:

no data
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

REPRODUCTIVE (TOX05A)
Target tissue:

Urogenital (TT006A)
Effect description:

L. operculata decoction to female mice during the implantation of embryos caused a reduction in birth rate. Also records of poisoning in ten women (aged between 19 and 26 years) after ingestion of a variable amount of tea made with dried fruit.
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

reproduction (CHD014BE)
Internal remarks:

Reduction in birth rate in mice, records of poisoning in women.

Endpoint study #2: Lanini, Juliana., Duarte-Almeida, Joaquim M., Nappo, Solange., Carlini, Elisaldo A. "Natural and therefore free of risks" - adverse effects, poisonings and other problems related to medicinal herbs by "raizeiros" in Diadema/SP". . revista brasileira de farmacognosia-brazilian journal of pharmacognosy, 2009, vol. 19, no. 1A, p. 121–129. .

Study relevance:

Human health
Plant part:

Unspecified (A07XD)
Type of toxicological test:

case report (CHD060TT)
Tested organism:

Human (as organism) (A056J)
Sex:

No data
Route of exposure:

ORAL: UNSPECIFIED (OECD2234PL)
Control groups used:

no data
Endpoint measured:

Dose not reported (CHD066EP)
Critical effect:

NOT REPORTED (TOX17A)
Effect description:

Three deaths reported in interviews related with the use of L. operculata as a herbal medicine
Effect or parameter linked to the endpoint:

mobility (CHD011BE)
Internal remarks:

Three deaths reported in interviews related with the use of L. operculata as a herbal medicine

Genotox #1: MEDEIROS, MD., TAKAHASHI, CS. ACTION OF LUFFA-OPERCULATA (CUCURBITACEAE) ON THE CHROMOSOMES OF WISTAR RATS . cytologia, 1987, vol. 52, no. 2, p. 261–265. .

Study category:

Genotoxicity
Type of toxicological test:

other (CHD008TT)
Method type:

in vivo
Tested organism:

Rat (as animal) (A0CNV)
Strain of test organism:

Wistar (CHD013ST)
Route of exposure:

OTHER (OECD0PL)
Exposure duration for in vivo:

24.0
Unit of exposure duration:

Hour (G099A)
Number of organisms dosed:

10
Control groups used:

yes
Endpoint measured:

chromosome aberration
Is genotoxic:

Ambiguous
Remarks on genotox study:

Intraperitoneal injection to Wistar rats of L. opericulata infusion at 4-64 mg/kg showed alterations of the break type, chromatid gaps, poly ploid nuclei and endoreduplication in bone marrow cells of the animals killed 24 hours after treatment. The changes were not significant compared to respective untreated controls but the most frequent alterations were not breaks and gaps, but polyploidy and endoreduplication.
Internal remarks:

IP injection of L.opericulata infusion showed chromosomal alterations (polyploidy, C-metaphases and endoreduplication) in bone marrow cells of the treated Wistar rat.
Internal ID:

WOS:A1987H796400010