Optimized microwave-assisted extraction and characterization of spray dried Luffa aegyptiaca nanomucilage: Physicochemical properties, biological activities, and anticancer efficacy against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Microwave-assisted extraction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology to evaluate the effects of extraction parameters on the yield and carbohydrate content of Luffa aegyptiaca mucilage. The optimal extraction parameters were determined at 540 W for 2 min with a 1:20 (g/mL) ratio, yielding a maximum of 5.90 % (w/w) and comprising 63 % carbohydrate content, which includes glucose, galactose, maltose, mannose, and galacturonic acid, characterized by β (1 → 4) and β (1 → 6) glycosidic bonds. The nanomucilage exhibited a monomodal particle size distribution of 145.3 ± 4.60 nm, high thermal stability (-1363.08 J/g), oil and water retention capacity, emulsifying ability (93.06 ± 0.48 %), emulsifying stability (75.02 ± 0.96 %), solubility (95.36 ± 0.89 %), and foaming ability (93.06 ± 0.48 %). Mucilage demonstrated potential in vitro anti-oxidant activity (2.05 ± 0.10 %) against Caco-2 cells, anti-inflammatory activity during membrane stabilization (30.47 ± 0.42 % to 70.46 ± 0.31 %,) and protein denaturation (20.47 ± 0.42 % to 78.39 ± 0.40 %) assays and anticancer activity against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), with growth inhibition of 100.5 ± 12.45 %. Hence, this evaluation of Luffa aegyptiaca nanomucilage highlights its potential as a multifunctional biomaterial with significant applications in the healthcare industry.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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