Pharmacology, toxicology and homeopathy of Luffa operculata (L.) Cogniaux (Cucurbitaceae): Integrative review

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q2 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

Toxicon Pub Date : 2025-02-08 DOI:10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108286

Luís Pereira-de-Morais , Paulo Ricardo Batista , Andressa de Alencar Silva , Isaac Moura Araújo , Gabriela Lucena Calixto , Thais de Souza Amorim , Marília Cavalcante Araújo , Verônica Milesi , Roseli Barbosa

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Abstract

Scientific evidence on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of Luffa operculata has been produced on a smaller scale, even though the species: (i) is edible; (ii) widely recognized in folk medicine for treating sinusitis and inducing abortion; (iii) and the basis of allopathic and homeopathic medicines. In this sense, the objective of this review is to characterize the pharmacological, toxicological and clinical profile of products based on L. operculata. After consulting 14 databases, as well as a free search on Google/Google Scholar and checking references, 85 studies were selected that met our eligibility criteria. After analysis and synthesis, we found that the products have a wide range of pharmacological activities in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. The toxicological spectrum is also alarming in different segments such as: cytogenotoxicity, tissue toxicity, (sub-) acute, reproductive, neuro- and phytotoxicity. The intensity of the pharmacological and toxicological effects is variable, and seems to be conditioned by various factors (examples: plant organ, polarity of the extracting solvent, quantity, experimental model and route of administration). Clinical data show that the products have satisfactory efficacy, tolerability and safety in the treatment of upper airway diseases (especially rhinitis and sinusitis). Finally, we hope that the presentation of toxicological information in this review can guide the safe and rational use of L. operculata in folk medicine. It may also serve as scientific evidence for exploring the pharmacological potential of the species, avoiding its side effects.

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Cogniaux (Cucurbitaceae) Luffa operculata (L.) 的药理学、毒理学和顺势疗法：综合综述。

关于带皮丝瓜的药理学和毒理学作用的科学证据已经在较小的规模上产生，尽管该物种：(i)可食用；（ii）治疗鼻窦炎和人工流产在民间医学中得到广泛认可；（iii）以及对抗疗法和顺势疗法药物的基础。从这个意义上说，这篇综述的目的是表征药理学，毒理学和临床资料的产品基于牛皮草。在查阅了14个数据库、免费检索谷歌/谷歌Scholar和查阅参考文献后，我们选择了85项符合我们资格标准的研究。经过分析和合成，我们发现产物在体内、体外和体外都具有广泛的药理活性。毒理学谱在不同的领域也令人震惊，如：细胞遗传毒性、组织毒性、（亚）急性毒性、生殖毒性、神经毒性和植物毒性。药理学和毒理学作用的强度是可变的，似乎受到各种因素的制约（例如：植物器官、提取溶剂的极性、数量、实验模型和给药途径）。临床资料表明，产品在治疗上呼吸道疾病（特别是鼻炎、鼻窦炎）方面具有满意的疗效、耐受性和安全性。最后，希望本文所提供的毒理学信息能够指导民间医药安全、合理地使用牛皮草。它也可以作为科学证据，探索该物种的药理潜力，避免其副作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Toxicon 医学-毒理学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

10.70%

发文量

358

审稿时长

68 days

期刊介绍： Toxicon has an open access mirror Toxicon: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. An introductory offer Toxicon: X - full waiver of the Open Access fee. Toxicon''s "aims and scope" are to publish: -articles containing the results of original research on problems related to toxins derived from animals, plants and microorganisms -papers on novel findings related to the chemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and immunological properties of natural toxins -molecular biological studies of toxins and other genes from poisonous and venomous organisms that advance understanding of the role or function of toxins -clinical observations on poisoning and envenoming where a new therapeutic principle has been proposed or a decidedly superior clinical result has been obtained. -material on the use of toxins as tools in studying biological processes and material on subjects related to venom and antivenom problems. -articles on the translational application of toxins, for example as drugs and insecticides -epidemiological studies on envenoming or poisoning, so long as they highlight a previously unrecognised medical problem or provide insight into the prevention or medical treatment of envenoming or poisoning. Retrospective surveys of hospital records, especially those lacking species identification, will not be considered for publication. Properly designed prospective community-based surveys are strongly encouraged. -articles describing well-known activities of venoms, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic activities of arachnid venoms, without any attempt to define the mechanism of action or purify the active component, will not be considered for publication in Toxicon. -review articles on problems related to toxinology. To encourage the exchange of ideas, sections of the journal may be devoted to Short Communications, Letters to the Editor and activities of the affiliated societies.