Complete genome sequence of a novel amalgavirus in sponge gourd, Luffa cylindrica.

A novel monopartite dsRNA virus, tentatively named "sponge gourd amalgavirus 1" (SGAV1), was discovered by high-throughput sequencing in sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) displaying mosaic symptoms in Jiashan County, Zhejiang Province, China. The genome of SGAV1 is 3,447 nucleotides in length and contains partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) encoding a putative replication factory matrix-like protein and a fusion protein, respectively. The fusion protein of SGAV1 shares 57.07% identity with the homologous protein of salvia miltiorrhiza amalgavirus 1 (accession no. DAZ91057.1). Phylogenetic analysis based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein suggests that SGAV1 belongs to the genus Amalgavirus of the family Amalgaviridae. Moreover, analysis of SGAV1-derived small interfering RNAs indicated that SGAV1 was actively replicating in the host plant. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed higher levels of SGAV1 expression in leaves than in flowers and fruits. This is the first report of a novel amalgavirus found in sponge gourd in China.

In vivo characterization of a luffa-based composite scaffold for subcutaneous implantation in rats.

Recent advancements in tissue engineering have witnessed luffa-derived scaffolds, exhibiting their exceptional potential in cellular proliferation, biocompatibility, appropriate interconnectivity, and biomechanical strength. In vivo studies involved implanting fabricated scaffolds subcutaneously in Wistar rats to evaluate their impact on the heart, liver, and kidneys. This approach provided a safe and minimally invasive means to evaluate scaffold compatibility with surrounding tissues. Male Wistar rats were categorized into four distinct groups, Group A, B, C, and D are referred to as 3% LC implanted scaffolds, 5% LC implanted scaffolds, control (without luffa scaffolds), and Sham (without any scaffold implantation), respectively. Histological analysis in all the groups indicated that the animal models did not exhibit any signs of inflammation or toxicity, suggesting favorable tissue response to the implanted scaffolds. Initial observations revealed elevated levels of enzymes and biomarkers in the experimental groups after a 24 h interval, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and serum creatinine. However, these parameters normalized 3 weeks post-implantation, with no significant increase compared to the control groups, suggesting that the implanted luffa-based scaffolds did not induce adverse effects on the heart, liver, and kidneys. Furthermore, the scaffold's significant pore size and porosity enable it to release drugs, including antibacterial medications. This study demonstrates promising results, indicating excellent scaffold porosity, sustained drug release, affirming the in vivo biocompatibility, absence of inflammatory responses, and overall tissue compatibility highlighting the immense potential of these luffa-based scaffolds in various tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Removal of Azo Dyes from Water Using Natural Luffa cylindrica as a Non-Conventional Adsorbent.

Reducing high concentrations of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, and dyes from water is an emerging necessity. We evaluated the use of Luffa cylindrica (Lc) as a natural non-conventional adsorbent to remove azo dye mixture (ADM) from water. The capacity of Lc at three different doses (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/L) was evaluated using three concentrations of azo dyes (0.125, 0.250, and 0.500 g/L). The removal percent (R%), maximum adsorption capacity (Qm), isotherm and kinetics adsorption models, and pH influence were evaluated, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The maximum R% was 70.8% for 10.0 g L-1Lc and 0.125 g L-1 ADM. The Qm of Lc was 161.29 mg g-1. Adsorption by Lc obeys a Langmuir isotherm and occurs through the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Statistical analysis showed that the adsorbent dose, the azo dye concentration, and contact time significantly influenced R% and the adsorption capacity. These findings indicate that Lc could be used as a natural non-conventional adsorbent to reduce ADM in water, and it has a potential application in the pretreatment of wastewaters.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of white towel gourd (Luffa cylindrica).

Mitochondria play an important role in the energy production of plant cells through independent genetic systems. This study has aimed to assemble and annotate the functions of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Luffa cylindrica. The mt genome of L. cylindrica contained two chromosomes with lengths of 380,879 bp and 67,982 bp, respectively. Seventy-seven genes including 39 protein-coding genes, 34 tRNA genes, 3 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene, were identified. About 90.63% of the codons ended with A or U bases, and 98.63% of monomers contained A/T, which contributed to the high A/T content (55.91%) of the complete mt genome. Six genes (ATP8, CCMFC, NAD4, RPL10, RPL5 and RPS4) showed positive selection. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that L. cylindrica is closely related to L. acutangula. The present results provide the mt genome of L. cylindrica, which may facilitate possible genetic variation, evolutionary, and molecular breeding studies of L. cylindrica.

Sub-chronic oral toxicity study of the alkaloid rich fraction from Luffa cylindrica fruit in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The loofah/sponge gourd Luffa cylindrica (L.), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is one of the neglected medicinal plants. Traditionally, Luffa cylindrica is prescribed for inducing labor. It has a long history of use in China for the treatment of fever, diabetes, dyspnea, and dysentery. This study investigated the toxicity profile of the alkaloid-rich fraction of Luffa cylindrica (ARF-LC) for the first time in Sprague Dawley rats. A total of 80 rats (40 male and 40 female rats) aged 13 weeks old and weighing 200-220 g were selected for this study. In SD rats, sub-chronic oral toxicity was investigated at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/d for a total of 90 days, followed by a 30-day recovery period. The results showed no variation in body weight among the three dose groups compared to the control group. Treatment-related adverse events, such as alterations in hematology and serum biochemistry parameters and the histology of the liver were sporadic in the high-dose rats but within the reference range. However, these changes disappeared after the doses were withdrawn during the recovery period. In conclusion, the "no observed adverse effect level" (NOAEL) of oral administration of ARF-LC in SD rats was considered 400 mg/kg/d and can be studied for its potential in further in vivo chronic investigations.

Identification of WRKY Family Members and Characterization of the Low-Temperature-Stress-Responsive WRKY Genes in Luffa (Luffa cylindrica L.).

The plant-specific WRKY transcription factor family members have diverse regulatory effects on the genes associated with many plant processes. Although the WRKY proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and other species have been thoroughly investigated, there has been relatively little research on the WRKY family in Luffa cylindrica, which is one of the most widely grown vegetables in China. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis to identify L. cylindrica WRKY genes, which were subsequently classified and examined in terms of their gene structures, chromosomal locations, promoter cis-acting elements, and responses to abiotic stress. A total of 62 LcWRKY genes (471-2238 bp) were identified and divided into three phylogenetic groups (I, II, and III), with group II further divided into five subgroups (IIa, IIb, IIc, IId, and IIe) in accordance with the classification in other plants. The LcWRKY genes were unevenly distributed across 13 chromosomes. The gene structure analysis indicated that the LcWRKY genes contained 0-11 introns (average of 4.4). Moreover, 20 motifs were detected in the LcWRKY proteins with conserved motifs among the different phylogenetic groups. Two subgroup IIc members (LcWRKY16 and LcWRKY31) contained the WRKY sequence variant WRKYGKK. Additionally, nine cis-acting elements related to diverse responses to environmental stimuli were identified in the LcWRKY promoters. The subcellular localization analysis indicated that three LcWRKY proteins (LcWRKY43, LcWRKY7, and LcWRKY23) are localized in the nucleus. The tissue-specific LcWRKY expression profiles reflected the diversity in LcWRKY expression. The RNA-seq data revealed the effects of low-temperature stress on LcWRKY expression. The cold-induced changes in expression were verified via a qRT-PCR analysis of 24 differentially expressed WRKY genes. Both LcWRKY7 and LcWRKY12 were highly responsive to the low-temperature treatment (approximately 110-fold increase in expression). Furthermore, the LcWRKY8, LcWRKY12, and LcWRKY59 expression levels increased by more than 25-fold under cold conditions. Our findings will help clarify the evolution of the luffa WRKY family while also providing valuable insights for future studies on WRKY functions.

Removal of phenol from wastewater using Luffa cylindrica fibers in a packed bed column: Optimization, isotherm and kinetic studies.

This research entails a comparison of the effectiveness of unmodified Luffa cylindrica fiber in a fully packed bed (RLCF) and NaOH-modified Luffa cylindrica fiber in another fully packed bed (MLCF) in the context of phenol removal from wastewater. Experimental data obtained through batch adsorption experiments were utilized to determine the most suitable model. It was observed that as the initial concentration of phenol increased from 100 to 500 mg/l, the maximum percentage removal increased from 63.5 to 83.1% for RLCF-PB and from 89.9 to 99.5% for MLCF-PB. The correlation coefficient (R2) was calculated for the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Harkin-Jura, Halsey, and Flory-Huggins models for both materials. The analysis revealed that the pseudo-second-order model was the most suitable, followed by the Elovich model, with the pseudo-first-order model being the least suitable. The Weber-Morris diffusion model suggested that pore diffusion was the rate-determining step, and diffusion at the border layer was determined to be endothermic, feasible, heterogeneous, and spontaneous. In summary, this study indicates that MLCF-PB is a promising material for the efficient removal of phenol from aqueous solutions.

Efficacious adsorption of divalent nickel ions over sodium alginate-g-poly(acrylamide)/hydrolyzed Luffa cylindrica-CoFe2O4 bionanocomposite hydrogel.

Existing Ni2+ heavy metal ions in an aqueous medium are highly hazardous for living organisms and humans. Therefore, designing low-cost adsorbents with enhanced effectiveness is essential for removing nickel ions to safeguard public health. In this study, a novel green nanocomposite hydrogel was synthesized through the free radical solution and bulk polymerization method, and its capability to remove divalent nickel ions from aqueous media was examined. The bionanocomposite hydrogel named as SA-g-poly(AAm)/HL-CoFe2O4 was produced by grafting polyacrylamide (AAm) onto sodium alginate (SA) in the presence of a magnetic composite recognized as HL-CoFe2O4, where HL represents hydrolyzed Luffa Cylindrica. By employing FT-IR, XRD, VSM, SEM, EDX-Map, BET, DLS, HPLC, and TGA techniques, morphological evaluation and characterization of the adsorbents were carried out. The performance of the adsorption process was studied under varying operational conditions including pH, temperature, contact duration, initial concentration of pollutant ions, and adsorbent dosage. HPLC analysis proved the non-toxic structure of the bionanocomposite hydrogel. The number of unreacted acrylamide monomers within the hydrogel matrix was measured at 20.82 mg/kg. The optimum conditions was discovered to be pH = 6, room temperature, adsorbent dosage of 1 of g.L-1, initial Ni2+ concentration of 10 mg.L-1, and contact time of 100 min, and the maximum adsorption efficiency at optimal state was calculated as 70.09, 90.25, and 93.83 % for SA-g-poly (AAm), SA-g-poly(AAm)/HL, and SA-g-poly(AAm)/HL-CoFe2O4 samples, respectively. Langmuir isotherm model was in good agreement with the experimental data and the maximum adsorption capacity of SA-g-poly(AAm), SA-g-poly(AAm)/HL, and SA-g-poly(AAm)/HL-CoFe2O4 samples was calculated to be 31.37, 43.15, and 45.19 mg.g-1, respectively. The adsorption process, according to kinetic studies, follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Investigations on thermodynamics also demonstrated that the process is exothermic and spontaneous. Exploring the interference effect of co-existing ions showed that the adsorption efficiency has decreased with concentration enhancement of Ca2+ and Na+ cations in aqueous medium. Furthermore, the adsorption/desorption assessments revealed that after 8 consecutive cycles, there had been no noticeable decline in the adsorption effectiveness. Finally, actual wastewater treatment outcomes demonstrated that the bionanocomposite hydrogel successfully removes heavy metal pollutants from shipbuilding industry effluent. Therefore, the findings revealed that the newly fabricated bionanocomposite hydrogel is an efficient, cost-effective, easy-separable, and green adsorbent that could be potentially utilized to remove divalent nickel ions from wastewater.

Protective effect of Luffa cylindrica fermentation liquid on cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure in female mice by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a leading cause of women's infertility without effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Luffa cylindrica fermentation liquid (LF) on cyclophosphamide (CTX) -induced POF in mice and to preliminarily investigate the underlying mechanisms. Thirty-two Balb/c mice were divided into four groups randomly. One group served as the control, while the other three received CTX injections to establish POF models. A 14-day gavage of either 5 or 10 µL/g LF was administered to two LF pretreatment groups. To analyze the effects of LF, the ovarian index, follicle number, the levels of serum sex hormones, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory factors, and apoptosis of the ovarian cells were measured. The effects of LF pretreatment on the expression of TLR4/NF-κB and apoptosis pathways were also evaluated. We found that LF pretreatment increased the ovarian index and the number of primordial and antral follicles while decreasing those of atretic follicles. LF pretreatment also increased the serum levels of estradiol (E2) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), while decreasing those of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Furthermore, LF pretreatment increased the levels of SOD and GSH in the ovaries, while decreasing those of MDA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). LF administration reduced the amount of TUNEL+ ovarian cells and the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB P65 protein expression. In conclusion, LF has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-apoptotic effects against CTX-induced POF, and the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB and apoptosis pathways may be involved in its mechanisms.

Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Gourd) Fibers in Treatment of Greywater: an Aerobic Fixed-Film Reactor Approach.

The need for potable water consumption in urban and suburban regions can be decreased by greywater treatment and its reuse. Utilizing natural fibers may provide sustainable solutions in addressing challenges related to water resource management. In this study, a fixed-film reactor was designed with Luffa cylindrica (an annually occurring fruit) as a bio-carrier. The lab-scale reactors were configured with and without Luffa cylindrica and were run for 90 days in fed-batch mode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to validate biofilm production over time. Monitoring COD, nitrogen, and total phosphate removal allowed for analysis of treatment effectiveness. Results demonstrated the treatment efficiency for the experimental reactor was 70.96%, 97.02%, 92.57%, and 81.20% for COD, nitrogen, phosphate, and anionic surfactant (AS), respectively. 16 s rRNA gene sequencing of bio-carrier and control greywater samples was carried out. Many bacteria known to break down anionic surfactants were observed, and microbial succession was witnessed in the control reactor vs. the experimental reactor samples. The three most prevalent genera in the experimental samples were Chlorobium, Chlorobaculum, and Terrimonas. However, it is crucial to underscore that additional research is essential to solidify our understanding in this domain, with this study laying the fundamental groundwork.

Protective effect of Luffa cylindrica Roemer against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in primary rat skeletal muscle cells.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. However, the administration of high doses and long-term use of GCs can induce muscle atrophy (MA) in patients, leading to a decline in quality of life and increased mortality. MA leads to protein degradation in skeletal muscle, resulting in a reduction of muscle mass. This process is triggered by GCs like dexamethasone (DEX), which induce the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases, namely Atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1). In this study, we examined the anti-MA potential of Luffa cylindrica Roemer (LCR) on DEX-treated primary skeletal myotubes. Primary skeletal myotubes stimulated with LCR alone resulted in a significant upregulation of myotube development, characterized by an increase in both the number and diameter of myotubes. Contrastingly, combined treatment with LCR and DEX reduced the expression of Atrogin-1, while treatment with DEX alone induced the expression of MuRF1. Furthermore, LCR treatment successfully restored the number and diameter of myotubes that had been diminished by DEX treatment. These findings suggest that LCR holds potential for treating MA, as an accelerating effect on muscle development and anti-MA effects on primary skeletal muscle cells were observed.

3D Composite U(VI) Adsorbents Based on Alginate Hydrogels and Oxidized Biochar Obtained from Luffa cylindrica.

3D naturally derived composites consisting of calcium alginate hydrogels (CA) and oxidized biochar obtained from Luffa cylindrica (ox-LC) were synthesized and further evaluated as adsorbents for the removal of U(VI) from aqueous media. Batch-type experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of various physicochemical parameters on the adsorption performance of materials. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) was 1.7 mol kg-1 (404.6 mg·g-1) at pH 3.0 for the CA/ox-LC with a 10% wt. ox-LC content. FTIR spectroscopy indicated the formation of inner-sphere complexes between U(VI) and the surface-active moieties existing on both CA and ox-LC, while thermodynamic data revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic and entropy-driven. The experimental data obtained from the adsorption experiments were well-fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Overall, the produced composites exhibited enhanced adsorption efficiency against U(VI), demonstrating their potential use as effective adsorbents for the recovery of uranium ions from industrial effluents and seawater.

Ameliorative effect of Luffa cylindrica fruits on Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology via autophagy induction.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder without an effective cure. Natural products, while showing promise as potential therapeutics for AD, remain underexplored. AIMS: This study was conducted with the goal of identifying potential anti-AD candidates from natural sources using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) AD-like models and exploring their mechanisms of action. MATERIALS & METHODS: Our laboratory's in-house herbal extract library was utilized to screen for potential anti-AD candidates using the C. elegans AD-like model CL4176. The neuroprotective effects of the candidates were evaluated in multiple C. elegans AD-like models, specifically targeting Aß- and Tau-induced pathology. In vitro validation was conducted using PC-12 cells. To investigate the role of autophagy in mediating the anti-AD effects of the candidates, RNAi bacteria and autophagy inhibitors were employed. RESULTS: The ethanol extract of air-dried fruits of Luffa cylindrica (LCE), a medicine-food homology species, was found to inhibit Aß- and Tau-induced pathology (paralysis, ROS production, neurotoxicity, and Aß and pTau deposition) in C. elegans AD-like models. LCE was non-toxic and enhanced C. elegans' health. It was shown that LCE activates autophagy and its anti-AD efficacy is weakened with the RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes. Additionally, LCE induced mTOR-mediated autophagy, reduced the expression of AD-associated proteins, and decreased cell death in PC-12 cells, which was reversed by autophagy inhibitors (bafilomycin A1 and 3-methyladenine). DISCUSSION: LCE, identified from our natural product library, emerged as a valuable autophagy enhancer that effectively protects against neurodegeneration in multiple AD-like models. RNAi knockdown of autophagy-related genes and cotreatment with autophagy inhibitors weakened its anti-AD efficacy, implying a critical role of autophagy in mediating the neuroprotective effects of LCE. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the potential of LCE as a functional food or drug for targeting AD pathology and promoting human health.

Microbial landscapes of the rhizosphere soils and roots of Luffa cylindrica plant associated with Meloidogyne incognita.

Introduction: The root-knot nematodes (RKN), especially Meloidogyne spp., are globally emerging harmful animals for many agricultural crops. Methods: To explore microbial agents for biological control of these nematodes, the microbial communities of the rhizosphere soils and roots of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) infected and non-infected by M. incognita nematodes, were investigated using culture-dependent and -independent methods. Results: Thirty-two culturable bacterial and eight fungal species, along with 10,561 bacterial and 2,427 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs), were identified. Nine culturable bacterial species, 955 bacterial and 701 fungal OTUs were shared in both four groups. More culturable bacterial and fungal isolates were detected from the uninfected soils and roots than from the infected soils and roots (except no fungi detected from the uninfected roots), and among all samples, nine bacterial species (Arthrobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Burkholderia ambifaria, Enterobacteriaceae sp., Fictibacillus barbaricus, Microbacterium sp., Micrococcaceae sp., Rhizobiaceae sp., and Serratia sp.) were shared, with Arthrobacter sp. and Bacillus sp. being dominant. Pseudomonas nitroreducens was exclusively present in the infested soils, while Mammaliicoccus sciuri, Microbacterium azadirachtae, and Priestia sp., together with Mucor irregularis, Penicillium sp., P. commune, and Sordariomycetes sp. were found only in the uninfected soils. Cupriavidus metallidurans, Gordonia sp., Streptomyces viridobrunneus, and Terribacillus sp. were only in the uninfected roots while Aspergillus sp. only in infected roots. After M. incognita infestation, 319 bacterial OTUs (such as Chryseobacterium) and 171 fungal OTUs (such as Spizellomyces) were increased in rhizosphere soils, while 181 bacterial OTUs (such as Pasteuria) and 166 fungal OTUs (such as Exophiala) rose their abundance in plant roots. Meanwhile, much more decreased bacterial or fungal OTUs were identified from rhizosphere soils rather than from plant roots, exhibiting the protective effects of host plant on endophytes. Among the detected bacterial isolates, Streptomyces sp. TR27 was discovered to exhibit nematocidal activity, and B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus sp. P35, and M. azadirachtae to show repellent potentials for the second stage M. incognita juveniles, which can be used to develop RKN bio-control agents. Discussion: These findings provided insights into the interactions among root-knot nematodes, host plants, and microorganisms, which will inspire explorations of novel nematicides.

Methyl esters synthesis from Luffa cylindrica seeds oil using green copper oxide nanoparticle catalyst in membrane reactor.

This study investigates the potential role of Juglans sp. root extract-mediated copper oxide nanoparticles of Luffa cylindrica seed oil (LCSO) into methyl esters. The synthesized green nanoparticle was characterized by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) spectroscopies to find out the crystalline size (40 nm), surface morphology (rod shape), particle size (80-85 nm), and chemical composition (Cu = 80.25% & O = 19.75%), accordingly. The optimized protocol for the transesterification reaction was adjusted as oil to methanol molar ratio (1:7), copper oxide nano-catalyst concentration (0.2 wt %), and temperature (90 °C) corresponding to the maximum methyl esters yield of 95%. The synthesized methyl esters were characterized by GC-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR studies to know and identify the chemical composition of newly synthesized Lufa biodiesel. The fuel properties of Luffa cylindrica seed oil biofuel were checked and compared with the American Biodiesel standards (ASTM) (D6751-10). Finally, it is commendable to use biodiesel made from wild, uncultivated, and non-edible Lufa cylindrica to promote and adopt a cleaner and sustainable energy method. The acceptance and implementation of the green energy method may result in favourable environmental effects, which in turn may lead to better societal and economic development.

Harnessing sponge gourd: an alternative source of oil and protein for nutritional security.

Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. is an important cucurbit crop that assures food security and dietary diversity among the poor communities. In the present study, seeds of 42 genotypes of Luffa cylindrica were evaluated for their potential use as oil seed crop. Seed moisture, oil and protein content and fatty acids profile were estimated along with total phenol and sugar content. Significant differences were observed among the various genotypes where oil content ranged from 15.4-29.8% and protein 19.9-30.8%. Total phenol content was high 6.43-12.84 mg/100 g, which bodes well for the sponge gourd seeds' ability to act as antioxidants. Significant correlation were found between important constituents studied like protein and oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid. Total unsaturated fatty acids were in higher amount comparable to saturated fatty acids signifying the good quality of Luffa seed oil. Our research revealed that the NDSG-1, Pusa Sneha, DSG-95, DSG-98, DSG-108, and DSG-26 genotypes were very nutritious due to their high levels of protein, oleic acid, and oil output. Additionally, selection of traits having considerable correlation will be beneficial and help in improved varietal development for usage as an alternative oilseed crop. Our research sheds light on the nutritional value of sponge gourd seeds and suggests using them as a potential source for oil and protein, particularly in underdeveloped countries.

Assessment of various forms of cellulose-based Luffa cylindrica (mat, flakes and powder) reinforced polydimethylsiloxane composites for oil sorption and organic solvents absorption.

Oil spillage has damaged public health noticeably and contributed to significant environmental deterioration. As a result, a significant amount of effort has been spent on investigating and developing the sorbent materials capable of separating oil from water. Thus, the sorbent materials that could be effective particularly in oil spill disposal and resolve such environmental issue remain to be explored. We have proposed luffa cylindrica (LC)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite forms to remove the oil and organic components that might be hazardous to aquatic organisms. The scaffolds were fabricated using hand lay-up method with various forms of luffa cylindrica i.e., LC mat, flakes and powder. Various characterizations such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), effective porosity, surface wettability, mechanical stability, cytotoxicity and sorption behavior with respect to oil, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and few organic solvents were performed. The results showed that the scaffold in combination with P-L flakes was highly effective in eradicating oil spills and removing harmful components of crude oil. Scaffolds composed of P-L mat, P-L flakes, P-L powder, and PDMS (P) exhibited oil absorption efficacy around 16.09 ± 4.62 %, 24.49 ± 3.55 %, 15.52 ± 2.67 % and 5.52 ± 1.44 %, respectively. We anticipate that the proposed scaffolds have the tremendous potential to provide a solution to this significant environmental remediation issue and to serve as a cost-effective method for removing oil spills and hazardous crude oil components.

Properties of Luffa Cylindrica Mats Reinforced Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane Composite as an Alternative for Oriented Strand Board.

The main objective of this work was to produce and characterize a novel ecofriendly castor oil-based polyurethane (COPU) matrix composite reinforced by Luffa cylindrica mats, luffa for short, to be used as panels, as an alternative to oriented strand board (OSB). To do so, the mechanical behavior was evaluated by tree point flexural, perpendicular o surface tensile, screw pullout, and impact tests that were carried on the novel composite along with the neat matrix. Furthermore, the physical characteristics, the thermomechanical behavior, and the functional groups of the materials were observed by water absorption and thickness swelling tests along with dilatometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A comparison with commercialized OSB was also performed for control. The luffa/COPU composite was prepared by hand lay-up with 48 vol% of luffa mats incorporated as the maximum allowed by the mold under the available resources for manufacturing. The luffa fibers acted as a good reinforcement for the COPU matrix, where the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity were increased by more than 23 and 10 times, respectively, and the other mechanical properties more than doubled for the composites compared to the neat COPU resin. In general, the composite presented a lower performance compared to the commercial OSB, with the impact results being the exception. The water absorption and thickness swallowing results showed an already-expected behavior for the studied materials, where the better performance was found for the hydrophobic neat resin. The FTIR revealed that there was little interaction between luffa and COPU resin, which can be translated to a weak interface between these materials. However, the mechanical behavior, together with the other results presented by the luffa/COPU composite, confirm it is more than enough to be used as civil construction panels such as OSB.

Loofah Sandwich Panels: The Effect of Adhesive Content on Mechanical and Physical Properties.

In the development of new materials, the focus nowadays is increasingly on their relevance with regard to lightweight construction or environmental compatibility. The idea of a lightweight sandwich panel was inspired by an increasing number of cosmetic accessories that use the fibers of the loofah plant, a rapidly renewable, light, fibrous raw material. The aim of the study was to develop a fiber composite panel based on the fibers of the loofah plant (Luffa cylindrica) as core material and wooden veneer as the skin layer to be used in areas of lead construction. Three different panel variations were produced for the tests, with a fiber-adhesive ratio between 1:1.05, 1:0.8, and 1:0.5. The mechanical strength (flexural strength and internal bond) and the physical properties (density and thickness swelling) were determined as a function of the fiber-adhesive composition. The results show that the flexural strength increased by approx. 400% and the thickness swelling was reduced by 10% with increasing adhesive quantity.