Toxicity profiling of the ethanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seed in rats: behavioral, biochemical and histopathological aspects.

Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae) is conventionally used for the treatment of urinary tract infection, renal stones, hypertension, diabetes and diarrhoea. Current study evaluates acute and 28 days repeated toxicity ethanolic extract of C. lanatus seed (EECLS) in Wistar rats to measure its safety profile. The single dose (2000 mg/kg BW) of EECLS was administered while in 28 days repeated study 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg BW were administered orally in rats. Parameters such as biochemical, haematological and histopathological were analysed in subacute toxicity study. During study, no apparent sign of toxicity, behavioural changes and mortality were detected in acutely exposed animals. In 28 days repeated toxicity study, rats did not show significant changes in behaviour, gross pathology, body weight, biochemical and haematological parameters. Abridged serum glucose and cholesterol levels during the study designate their roles in treatment of hyperglycaemic and hyperlipidaemic conditions. No significant difference was observed in histopathology of liver and kidneys of treated rats. The current investigation demonstrated that EECLS is non-toxic below 1000 mg/kg BW and provides protection to some body organs. The data propose that LD50 of EECLS was greater than 2000 mg/kg BW and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of EECLS was at the dose of 1000 mg/kg in rats. Taken together, our finding suggests that, EECLS is safe and provides some protection to body organs; also, its extract can be used for further preclinical and clinical evaluation for its therapeutic activity.

Extraction of watermelon seed proteins with enhanced functional properties using ultrasound.

Watermelon seed is the potential source of value-added proteins, oils, and carbohydrates. The present study evaluates the extraction, and functional properties of watermelon seed protein (WMSP) obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method from watermelon seed (WMS). The optimization of various operating parameters, such as pH (9), WMS powder to solvent ratio (1:50 w/v), temperature (30 ± 2 °C), ultrasound power (90 W), frequency (25 kHz), and duty cycle (75%) has been carried out. The extraction yield obtained was 87% and the extraction time was lowered down to 9 min from 120 min of conventional batch extraction. It contains all essential amino acids in an adequate amount required for adults as per FAO/WHO guidelines while for 2-5 years old children, the content of valine and isoleucine are above the required range. Methionine and lysine contents are adequate for both children and adults. Functional properties of ultrasonic extracted proteins were found superior to conventionally extracted proteins.highlightsThe UAE method is more efficient for watermelon seed protein extraction.Impact of extraction parameters on the extraction yield was studied.Protein isolate with enhanced functional properties was obtained.Essential amino acid content was determined.

Fruit quality of seedless watermelon grafted onto squash rootstocks under different production systems.

BACKGROUND: The market demand for seedless watermelon has been continuously increasing because of consumer preference. Grafting is a useful tool to manage soilborne diseases in watermelon production, but the use of squash rootstocks may negatively affect watermelon fruit quality. Currently, most research has focused on seeded cultivars, while grafting effects on seedless watermelons remain largely unknown. This multi-season study was conducted to assess the effects of squash rootstocks, including both Cucurbita maxima × C. moschata and C. moschata cultivars, with intact or excised and regenerated roots, on fruit quality of seedless watermelon 'Melody' using both instrumental and sensory measurements under different production scenarios. The grafted watermelon plants were also challenged by field inoculation with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum. RESULTS: A combination of instrumental measurements and consumer sensory analyses suggested that fruit quality of the seedless watermelon 'Melody' was not impacted by the use of the squash rootstocks used in this study, which included soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH and most fruit sensory properties. Watermelon flesh firmness was increased by grafting but the grafting effect on lycopene content was inconclusive. Root excision and regeneration did not influence the grafting effect, whereas the grafting effect on flesh firmness varied among the rootstocks under Fusarium inoculation. CONCLUSION: Overall, grafting with squash rootstocks did not reduce fruit quality attributes of 'Melody' but improved texture. Our results support incorporating grafting into integrated management programs for seedless watermelon production. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Survey of aflatoxins in watermelon seeds from Iran using immunoaffinity column cleanup and HPLC with fluorescence detection.

This survey was undertaken to determine the levels of aflatoxins in melon seeds. Among 65 samples analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC), the results showed that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was the major toxins in melon seeds, detected in 58 samples (89.2% of the total) at an average concentration of 8.5 ng g(-1). The level of AFB1 in 12 samples exceeded the maximum tolerated level for AFB1 in Iranian (5 ng g(-1)) regulations; in other words, 18.5% of samples were unfit for human consumption.

Molecular characterization of a GA-inducible gene, Cvsus1, in developing watermelon seeds.

To understand the molecular mechanisms that control seed development, we isolated a seed-preferential gene from ESTs of developing watermelon seeds. The gene Cvsus1 encodes a protein that is 86% identical to the Vicia faba sucrose synthase expressed in developing seeds. RNA blot analysis showed that Cvsus1 was preferentially expressed in watermelon seeds. We also investigated gene expression levels both in pollinated seeds and in parthenocarpic seeds, which lack zygotic tissues. Whereas the transcript level of Cvsus1 was rapidly increased during normal seed development, the expression was not significantly increased in the parthenocarpic seeds. However, treating the parthenocarpic fruits with GA3 strongly induced Cvsus1 expression, up to the level accumulated in pollinated seeds. These results suggest that Cvsus1 is induced in maternal tissues via signals from the zygotic tissues, and that GA may be one of those signals.

[The ultrastructural study of synergids before and after fertilization in watermelon embryo sacs].

The ultrastructure of synergids of watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus L.) was investigated using transmission electron microscopy at following stages of embryo sacs: 1. Unpollination, on the first flowering day. 2. Unpollination, on 2nd day after anthesis (DAA). 3. Fertilization, on DAA 2. The synergids with distinct filiform apparatus at the micropylar end have abundant organelle, such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and plastids in cytoplasm, which indicate that they are active on the first flowering day. No wall is present at the chalazal part of synergid, and there are some flocculent materials and vesicles in the spaces of cytoplasma membranes among synergid, egg cell and central cell in embryo sacs at the first and the second stages. On DAA 2, in unpollinated embryo sacs, the central large vacuole of synergid is divided into several smaller ones and the starch grains decrease in cytoplasm. There is no newly synthesized wall at the chalazal end of persistent synergid in fertilized embryo sacs. The contents of degenerated synergid, in the form of electron dense granules, are located in the wide space among central cell, zygote and persistent synergid, and some of them migrate into central cell through cytoplasma membrane. Therefore, it is deduced that the contents of synergid might serve as a nutrient supplement to the development of endosperm, but not embryo.