Indigenous vegetables of family Cucurbitaceae of Azad Kashmir: A key emphasis on their pharmacological potential.

The antioxidant capacity of extracts of different parts of Cucurbitaceae vegetables was evaluated by DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2, 2'-azino bis (ethyl benzothiazoline 6)-sulphonic acid) methods. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also determined. The correlation of TPC, TFC, DPPH, and ABTS in different extracts of Cucurbitaceae vegetables was analyzed. The peel extracts of studied vegetables had the highest TPC, (C. grandis 3.00±0.86, T. cucumerina 3.24±0.70 and C. moschata 3.12±0.06 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g-1 DW) and TFC (C. grandis 18.96±1.5, T. cucumerina 13.92±1.41 and C. moschata 15.31±0.97 mg rutin equivalent (RE) g-1 DW). The maximum antioxidant potential was obtained by the ABTS method in peel extracts of C. grandis (78.7%) and C. moschata (63.5%) while in pulp extract of T. cucumerina (50.1%) at 10 µg/mL. The percent radical scavenging activity (% RSA) by the DPPH method found maximum for peel and pulp of C. grandis (45.15 and 45.15%, respectively) and peel of T. cucumerina (45.15%) and C. moschata (34.15%). The EC50 obtained in the ABTS method was 0.54 and 7.15 µg/mL for C. grandis and C. moschata, respectively while 0.81 µg/mL for the pulp of T. cucumerina compared to standard ascorbic acid (1.05 µg/mL). The EC50 calculated in the DPPH method was 11.78 µg/mL, 13.34 µg/mL, and 21.00 µg/mL for C. grandis, T. cucumerina, and C. moschata peel respectively compared to the standard Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Among each variable, the correlation between ABTS and TPC provided the highest positive correlation (r = 0.998, p< 0.05) in peel extracts.

Anorectal melanoma--3 case reports and a review of the literature.

Anorectal melanoma is an uncommon disease. Histologically, the tumor may mimic adenocarcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and sarcomas; grossly, the lesion often mimics hemorrhoids. We report 3 cases of anorectal melanoma: a 40-year-old woman with anorectal melanoma with local recurrence after an abdominoperineal resection (APR); a 30-year-old woman with anorectal melanoma and multiple liver metastases returning with multiple masses in the rectum and 2 nodules above and below the left clavicle after receiving chemotherapy; and a 62-year-old woman with inguinal node metastases. The histologic findings in all 3 cases revealed malignant tumor composed of atypical melanocytes diagnosed as malignant melanoma of the rectum. In the first case, APR with pararectal lymphadenectomy was performed. Histopathology revealed nodal metastasis. The patient was noncompliant with chemotherapy and died after several months. In the second case, chemotherapeutic treatment was begun. Seven months after receiving chemotherapy, the patient returned with multiple metastases. The final case was lost to follow-up after referral to an oncologist. Anorectal melanoma is highly aggressive and unresponsive to both radical surgery and local control. Although supplemental therapy may improve quality of life and prolong survival, the 5-year survival rate is 10% with a mean survival time of 15 to 25 months. In the 3 cases presented, metastatic disease was present at the time of diagnosis. At this stage, APR with lymphadenectomy followed by some form of adjuvant therapy is our recommended treatment.