Variations in the Bioactive Compounds Composition and Biological Activities of Loofah (Luffa cylindrica) Fruits in Relation to Maturation Stages

The present work aimed to determine the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of Luffa cylindrica fruits collected at two different maturation stages and to identify and compare their functional components composition. The MeOH extracts of L. cylindrica fruits harvested at 60 – 65 days after seeding (S1) and 85 – 90 days after seeding (S2) were investigated for their antioxidant activity using various assays. Furthermore, the antiproliferative activity of the extracts against HeLa human cervical cancer cells was explored with xCELLigence real time cell analyzer, while the effect of the samples on the membrane integrity of the same cell line was assessed using LDH cytotoxicity leakage assay. Ultimately, the phytochemicals were analyzed using GC/MS and HPLC/TOF‐MS. The S1 sample had higher contents and more diversity in the phenolic compounds composition than S2. Furthermore, the S1 extract showed the highest antioxidant and antiproliferative activity, while the S2 extract had higher cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells. The findings revealed that the time of harvest has a big impact on the phytochemicals content and activity and that harvesting L. cylindrica at an early stage before the beginning of the development of the cellulose fibrous system is recommended for a rich phytochemical composition and efficient antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.