Ethanolic extract of <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> L. sponge ameliorates 4-Vinyl Cyclohexene Monoepoxide (VCM) – induced oxidative stress in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Abstract

Luffa cylindrica (Curcurbitaceae), is a plant whose leaves and fruits (sponge) are employed for the management of pain, inflammation as well as diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of Luffa cylindrica sponge on 4-Vinyl Cyclohexene Monoepoxide (VCM)–induced oxidative stress using Drosophila melanogaster model. The Luffa cylindrica sponge was crushed and extracted with 50% ethanol to facilitate ethanolic extract, Luffa cylindrica (LUC). The antioxidant activity of the extract was investigated via 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Both genders of Drosophila melanogaster aged between 1 and 3 days old were treated with vehicle (ethanol, negative control), gallic acid (0.1 mM), LUC (5 mg/10 g diet), LUC (10 mg/10 g diet), VCM (1 mM), (1 mM VCM + 0.1 mM gallic acid), (1 mM VCM + 5 mg/10 g diet) and (1 mM VCM + 10 mg/10 g diet) in the diet for 5 days of treatment. Afterwards, the survival and negative geotaxis assays were determined followed by the determination of the activities of total thiol, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase. The results showed that LUC demonstrated significant antioxidant activity with 50 % Inhibitory Concentration (IC50) of 155.20 μg/mL compared with gallic acid (IC50 = 23.2 μg/mL). Furthermore, our results suggest that LUC significantly (p<0.05) regenerated VCM–induced depletion of total thiol and inhibition of catalase, glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities. Our findings revealed that Luffa cylindrica sponge extract possessed ameliorative effects on VCM–induced Drosophila melanogaster by increasing the activities of in vivo antioxidant enzymes. This study upheld the ethnomedical uses of Luffa cylindrica for the management of oxidative stress-related diseases.