A closer look at Cucumis and Momordica

In a latest examine revealed within the journal Meals, researchers overview the organic actions of Cucumis and Momordica, two plant species belonging to the Cucurbitaceae household.

Examine: Significance of Sure Styles of Cucurbits in Enhancing Well being: A Overview. Picture Credit score: Kotcha Okay / Shutterstock.com

Background

The Cucurbitaceae household includes about 115 genera and 960 species of various vegetables and fruit, that are wealthy sources of proteins, nutritional vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, and plenty of bioactive compounds. Based mostly on their morphological, cytological, and floral traits, these crops are categorized into two major subfamilies: Cucurbitoidea and Zanoniodeae.

Cucumis L. is a genus of the Cucurbitaceae household. It’s generally consumed contemporary or utilized in numerous meals and drinks. It can also be utilized in numerous topical formulations and pharmaceutical vitamin A and C merchandise.

Momordica species of the Cucurbitaceae household are cultivated in tropical areas and infrequently have a bitter style because of the presence of alkaloid phytochemicals. Bioactive compounds and hint parts present in these crops are helpful for treating numerous well being circumstances, together with bronchial asthma, fever, neuropsychological, dermatological, and digestive issues.

Bodily description of the members of the Cucurbitaceous household mentioned on this article

Well being properties of Cucumis metuliferus

Cucumis metuliferus, which is often generally known as Kiwano or horned melon, grows largely in tropical areas, together with Nigeria and South Africa. Polysaccharides current within the Cucumis metuliferus peel have immunomodulatory, ferrous ion-chelating, and prebiotic actions.

The Cucumis metuliferus pulp accommodates excessive quantities of potassium salts and low quantities of sodium salts, in addition to rutin and lutein, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and platelet aggregation-inhibiting actions.

C. metuliferus extract can exert hypoglycemic results by inhibiting the actions of key enzymes like β-glucosidase or α-amylase concerned in glucose metabolism. The hydroethanolic extract of Cucumis metuliferus can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic results because of the presence of ursolic acid.

The anti-inflammatory properties of C. metuliferus methanolic extracts primarily rely on the excessive phenol and flavonoid content material of those fruits. These extracts might also cut back nephrotoxicity and improve complete white blood cell (WBC) counts in animals.

Well being properties of Cucumis agrestis

Cucumis agrestis is usually consumed as a vegetable and accommodates a number of phytoconstituents, together with alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, steroids, triterpenoids, and phenolic acids.

The hydroalcoholic extract of Cucumis agrestis is related to anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic properties. Comparatively, the methanolic fruit extract has proven sturdy antioxidant exercise, which makes it a possible adjuvant candidate for the therapy of liver most cancers.

Well being properties of Cucumis melo L.

Cucumis melo is a wealthy supply of vitamin C, vitamin E, polyphenols, carotenoids, and phytochemicals, all of that are related to potential cardiovascular, diuretic, digestive, and antiparasitic advantages.

Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis, generally generally known as rock melon, reveals excessive provitamin A exercise and should, due to this fact, stop continual irritation. Rock melon pulp and peel extracts have additionally proven efficacy in stopping edema formation.

Cucurbitacin B from Cucumis melo var. Cantalupensis has demonstrated anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic actions in opposition to lung most cancers cells by inhibiting inflammatory processes.

Cucumis melo var. reticulatus or Galia melon is a wealthy supply of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, minerals similar to magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and important amino acids.

Cucumis melo L. inodorus is a wealthy supply of important vitamins and minerals, similar to magnesium, potassium, iron, nutritional vitamins C, A, and B₆, calcium, pantothenic acid, omega-3, omega-6, and zinc. Some types of this melon have been proven to successfully handle insulin resistance and adipose tissue irritation, in addition to defend the cardiovascular system.

Well being properties of Momordica charantia

Momordica charantia, which is a bitter melon, is a wealthy supply of proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fibers, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds like gallic acid, tannic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and benzoic acid.

Glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase (BG-4) extracted from Momordica charantia seeds is related to sturdy trypsin-inhibiting and anti inflammatory actions, significantly within the context of impaired glucose metabolism.   

Phenolic compounds current in Momordica charantia can exert anti-diabetic results by inhibiting intestinal carbohydrate absorption, stimulating insulin secretion, and defending the islets of Langerhans from degradation. Actually, a novel insulin receptor-binding protein remoted from Momordica charantia reveals gastric resistance and hypoglycemic actions.

Momordica charantia extracts have proven antibacterial exercise in opposition to Okay. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis, with water extracts displaying stronger exercise than ethanolic extracts.

Amongst variations of Momordica charantia, earlier research have reported the antibacterial exercise of var. muricata in opposition to Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas var. charantia has proven antibacterial exercise in opposition to S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli.   

Momordica charantia extracts have proven anticancer exercise in opposition to breast, lung, and colon most cancers cells. In ovarian most cancers, Momordica charantia extracts elicit anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic, and pro-apoptotic results by means of its protein kinase-activating exercise.

Momordica dioica is a wealthy supply of many bioactive compounds, fat, carbohydrates, and dietary fibers. Beforehand, Momordica dioica has demonstrated anticancer actions in opposition to ovarian and cervical cancers. Actually, the purification and isolation Momordica dioica proteins have supported latest developments in peptide-based drug supply.