Cucumis melo
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Cucumis melo Common Names: Melon, Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Cucumis Species: C. melo Binomial Name: Cucumis melo L. Synonyms: Cucumis acidus Jacq., Cucumis agrestis (Naudin) Greb., Cucumis callosus (Rottler) Cogn., Cucumis conomon Thunb., Cucumis dudaim L., Cucumis flexuosus L., Cucumis trigonus Roxb., Melo adana Pangalo Morphological Description Cucumis melo is
an annual, trailing vine, often sprawling 1.5–3 m long, with hairy, ridged
stems. Its features include: · Leaves: Large, orbicular to reniform, 5–20 cm in diameter, shallowly
5–7 lobed, rough-textured, hairy on both surfaces · Flowers: Yellow, 2–3 cm across, monoecious (staminate clustered,
pistillate solitary), blooming June–September · Fruit: Pepo, highly variable—globose to oblong, 5–30 cm long, rind
smooth (honeydew), netted (muskmelon), ribbed (cantaloupe), or wrinkled
(casaba); flesh white, green, orange, or pink, sweet or bland, musky or
inodorous · Seeds: Numerous, elliptic, compressed, 4–13 mm long, creamy white The fruit’s diversity
reflects centuries of cultivation (Pitrat, 2017). Distribution and Habitat Cucumis melo likely
originated in the Middle East (Iran to India) or Africa, with wild forms in
Sudan and Kenya. Cultivated for over 4,000 years, it’s now grown globally in: · Regions: Tropics and subtropics, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and
the Americas · Climate: Warm, 25–35°C, with rainfall of 500–1,500 mm annually · Soil: Well-drained, sandy loam (pH 6.0–7.0) · Elevation: Sea level to 1,500 m It thrives in sunny,
arid conditions, often along ancient trade routes (Renner & Pandey, 2013). Ethnopharmacology Cucumis melo is
valued in traditional medicine across cultures, supported by studies: · Hydration/Diuretic: High water content (90%) used in India for
cooling and kidney stones; seed extracts increase urine output in rats (400
mg/kg) (Ravishankar & Priya, 2012). · Anti-inflammatory: Fruit pulp in Pakistan reduces fever; methanol
extract lowers paw edema in rats (40% at 300 mg/kg) (Parmar & Kar, 2008). · Antioxidant: Seeds in Nigeria treat oxidative stress; peel extracts show
DPPH IC₅₀ of 20 µg/mL (Boualam et al., 2021). · Digestive Aid: Fiber-rich fruit in Ayurveda relieves constipation; pulp
used in Mali for stomach aches (Burkill, 1985). · Analgesic: Root decoctions in Sudan ease pain; seed extracts reduce
writhing in mice (50% at 150 mg/kg) (Asif et al., 2022). · Anticancer: Seed oil in Egypt for tumors; extracts inhibit colon cancer
cells (IC₅₀ 15 µg/mL) (Ibrahim et al., 2023). Phytochemistry Bioactivity arises from
diverse compounds: · Flavonoids: Quercetin, kaempferol—antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
(Boualam et al., 2021) · Carotenoids: β-carotene, lutein—vision health, oxidative protection (Asif
et al., 2022) · Vitamins: C (ascorbic acid), A—immune support (Pitrat, 2017) · Fatty Acids: Linoleic acid in seeds—cardioprotective (Silva et al., 2020) · Terpenoids: Anticancer potential (Ibrahim et al., 2023) ⚠ Toxicity Profile: Generally safe; seeds contain minor cucurbitacins, potentially causing nausea at high doses. No acute toxicity reported at traditional levels (LD₅₀ > 2,000 mg/kg in rats). Caution advised in pregnancy due to limited data (Parmar & Kar, 2008). Additional Uses · Culinary: Eaten fresh, juiced, or in desserts; seeds roasted or
pressed for oil · Economic: Peel waste for biofuels; seeds for cosmetics (Silva et al.,
2020) · Cultural: Used in Indian festivals for offerings · Agricultural: Susceptible to pests (aphids, powdery mildew); stored
refrigerated post-ripening References
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| Compounds of Cucumis melo | |
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