A Comprehensive Review on Medicinal Importance of Cucumis melo
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22270/ajprd.v13i1.1514Abstract
Cucumis melo which is generally known as musk melon or Kharbuzah belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. The plant is an annual climber or creeping herb characterized by its angular, scabrous stem, simple soft hairy orbicular-reniform leaves, and persistent tendrils that can be easily trained over trellises. The cultivation of musk melons is widespread throughout India, particularly, in the arid and thermally intense North-Western regions. Main components used include pulp, root, seeds, and seed oil. The compound has diuretic, emmenagogue, and cooling, demulcent effects. Throughout generations, fruit has been used to alleviate kidney problems including kidney and bladder stones, painful and burning urination, urinary tract ulcers, urinary retention, cough, hot inflammation of the liver, liver and bile blockage, dermatitis, and more. The oil extracted from seeds is highly nutritious and specifically contains linoleic acid (60-70%), lecithin, cephalin, and cerebroside. Melon seeds are composed of multiflorenol, isomultiflorenol, and 24-methylenecycloartenol esters. Its antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, anthelmintic¸ nephroprotective and cytotoxic activity, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activity, Anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging activity, Anti-Vitiligo Effect, Anti-ulcer activity, Anti-cancer activity, Hepato-protective activity, Diuretic effect, Protects against Hypothyroidism, Anti-diabetic activity, Haemagglutination and Haemolysis, Antibacterial and Anthelmintic activity, Antimicrobial activity, Antifungal, Nematicidal have been proved by research studies. Cucumis melo Linn., also known as melon, is a highly palatable and succulent fruit with a nutritional composition that provides vitamins A and C, potassium, and dietary fiber. Its health benefits include enhanced hydration and antioxidant qualities. Cucumis melo Linn. also holds significant economic significance, contributing to the agricultural economy by providing jobs and bolstering local markets. The species includes several cultivars, including cantaloupe and honeydew, each with unique taste profiles and textures. This variability highlights the importance of genetic variety in breeding initiatives to enhance yield resilience against pests and environmental stressors. Further research is needed to maximize the potential benefits of Cucumis melo Linn.
Downloads
References
Asif HM, Rehman SU, Akram M, Akhtar N, Sultana S, Rehman JU. Medicinal Properties of Cucumis melo Linn. RADS Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2014 Apr 18;2(1):58-62.
Fahamiya N, Aslam M, Siddiqui A, Shiffa M. Review on cucumis melo: ethnobotany and Unani medicine. World J. Pharm. Pharmac. Sci. 2016 Oct 6;5:621-36.
Kerje T, Grum M. The origin of melon, Cucumis melo: a review of the literature. InVII Eucarpia Meeting on Cucurbit Genetics and Breeding 510 2000 Mar 19 (pp. 37-44).
Usman JG, Sodipo OA, Kwaghe AV, Sandabe UK. Uses of Cucumis metuliferus: a review. Cancer Biol. 2015;5(1):24-34.
Ullah N, Khan S, Khan A, Ahmad W, Shah Y, Ahmad L, Ullah I. A prospective pharmacological review of medicinal herbs, Cucumis melo and Berberis vulgaris, commonly used in the treatment of renal diseases in Pakistan. Acta Pol Pharm. 2015 Jul 1;72(4):651-4.
Lija M, Beevy SS. A Review on the diversity of Melon. Plant Science Today. 2021 Nov 14;8(4):995-1003.
Khan A, Mishra A, Hasan SM, Usmani A, Ubaid M, Khan N, Saidurrahman M. Biological and medicinal application of Cucumis sativus Linn.–review of current status with future possibilities. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2022 Dec 5;19(4):843-54.
Lester G. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit nutritional quality and health functionality. HortTechnology. 1997 Jul 1;7(3):222-7.
Insanu M, Rizaldy D, Silviani V, Fidrianny I. Chemical compounds and pharmacological activities of cucumis genus. Biointerface Res Appl Chem. 2022;12(1):1324-34.
Rajasree RS, Ittiyavirah SP, Naseef PP, Kuruniyan MS, Elayadeth-Meethal M, Sankar S. The anti-inflammatory properties of the methanolic extract of Cucumis melo Linn. against prostate enlargement in Wistar rats. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2022 Sep 1;29(9):103396.
Nithya M, Revathi M, Rangapriya M, Saritha B, Uthayanithi S. A Review On “Cucumis Melo L”-An Important Medicinal Plant. European Journal of Biomedical. 2023;10(4):105-9.
Swamy KR. Origin, distribution and systematics of culinary cucumber (Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis var. conomon). Journal of Horticultural Sciences. 2017;12(1):1-22.
Garg N, Sidhu AS, Cheema DS. Systematics of the genus Cucumis: A review of literature. Haryana J. hortic. Sci. 2007;36(1&2):192-7.
Sangamithra A, Ragavi P. Post-harvest attributes of muskmelon (Cucumis melo): a mini review on the potential of value addition. Current Nutrition & Food Science. 2020 Aug 1;16(6):854-9.
SOH RS, HAPIDIN H, KASIRAM MZ. A Scoping Review on Cucumis melo and Its Anti-Cancer Properties.
Rehman S, Imran M. An ethno-botanical review of seeds of Cucumis sativa (Maghz-e-tukhme khiyarain) from Unani Medicine and its Pharmacological Updates. Int. J. Adv. Pharm. Med. Bioallied Sci. 2021;9:31-6.
Rajasree RS, Ittiyavirah SP, Naseef PP, Kuruniyan MS, Anisree GS, Elayadeth-Meethal M. An evaluation of the antioxidant activity of a methanolic extract of Cucumis melo L. fruit (F1 hybrid). Separations. 2021 Aug 18;8(8):123.
Pandey A, Ranjan P, Ahlawat SP, Bhardwaj R, Dhariwal OP, Singh PK, Malav PK, Harish GD, Prabhu P, Agrawal A. Studies on fruit morphology, nutritional and floral diversity in less-known melons (Cucumis melo L.) of India. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2021 Apr;68:1453-70.
Wahid S, Khan RA, Feroz Z, Ikram R. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxic effects of ethanol extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus seeds. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 2020 May 1;33(3).
Olubunmi IP, Olajumoke AA, Bamidele JA, Omolara OF. Phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of golden melon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds for functional food application. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review. 2019 Mar 7;25(2):1-3.
Yadav JP, Singh AK, Grishina M, Pathak P, Patel DK. Cucumis melo var. agrestis Naudin as a potent antidiabetic: Investigation via experimental methods. Phytomedicine Plus. 2022 Nov 1;2(4):100340.
Jeffrey C. A review of the Cucurbitaceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean society. 1980 Oct 1;81(3):233-47.
Hafeez N. Phytochemical and Biological Studies of Cucurbitaceae: A Mini-Review. Phytopharmacology Research Journal. 2024 Feb 23;3(1):13-23.
Ajuru M, Nmom F. A review on the economic uses of species of Cucurbitaceae and their sustainability in Nigeria. American Journal of plant biology. 2017 Jan;2(1):17-24.
Asghar MN, Shahzad MT, Nadeem I, Ashraf CM. Phytochemical and in vitro total antioxidant capacity analyses of peel extracts of different cultivars of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2013 Feb 1;51(2):226-32.
Devi B, Singh S. Phytochemical And Gc-Ms Studies Of Cucumis Melo L Subsp. Agrestis (Naudin) Pangalo Fruits. Plant Archives (09725210). 2021 Apr 1;21(1).
Manchali S, Chidambara Murthy KN, Vishnuvardana, Patil BS. Nutritional composition and health benefits of various botanical types of melon (Cucumis melo L.). Plants. 2021 Aug 24;10(9):1755.
Gomez-Garcia R, Campos DA, Aguilar CN, Madureira AR, Pintado M. Valorization of melon fruit (Cucumis melo L.) by-products: Phytochemical and Biofunctional properties with Emphasis on Recent Trends and Advances. Trends in food science & technology. 2020 May 1;99:507-19.
Fahamiya N, Aslam M, Siddiqui A, Shiffa M, Ahmed A, Khan MS. Pharmacognostical study and development of quality control parameters for Cucumis melo Linn. Am J PharmTech Res. 2012;2(4):1-4.
Olajumoke AA, Olubunmi IP, Bamidele JA, Omolara OF. Phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of golden melon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds for functional food application. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review. 2019 Mar 7;25(2):1-3.
Fahamiya N, Aslam M, Siddiqui A, Shiffa M. Review on cucumis melo: ethnobotany and Unani medicine. World J. Pharm. Pharmac. Sci. 2016 Oct 6;5:621-36.
Lester G. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit nutritional quality and health functionality. HortTechnology. 1997 Jul 1;7(3):222-7.
Insanu M, Rizaldy D, Silviani V, Fidrianny I. Chemical compounds and pharmacological activities of cucumis genus. Biointerface Res Appl Chem. 2022; 12(1):1324-34.
Park SS, Park NO, Kang JU, Shin SC, Lee DU. Cognition enhancing effect of muskmelon (Cucumis melo) extracts on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. Journal of Life Science. 2009; 19(5):688-91.
Silva MA, Albuquerque TG, Alves RC, Oliveira MB, Costa HS. Cucumis melo L. seed oil components and biological activities. InMultiple Biological Activities of Unconventional Seed Oils 2022 Jan 1 (pp. 125-138). Academic Press.
Wahid S, Khan RA, Feroz Z, Ikram R. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and toxic effects of ethanol extracts of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus seeds. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 2020 May 1;33(3).
Singh S, Devi B. Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory And Burn Wound Healing Activities Of Cucumis Melo L. Subsp. Agrestis (Naudin) Pangalo Fruits And Leaves. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology ISSN.; 1671:4512.
Demsie DG, Yimer EM, Berhe AH, Altaye BM, Berhe DF. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of crude root extract and solvent fractions of Cucumis ficifolius in mice model. Journal of Pain Research. 2019 Apr 30:1399-409.
Sivakumar G, Aswin K. Evaluation of Ethanolic leaf extract of Cucumis melo var. agrestis in Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis on Rats. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research. 2023 Jul 19:469-77.
Galani VJ, Goswami SS, Shah MB. Antiulcer activity of Trichosanthes cucumerina linn. against experimental gastro-duodenal ulcers in rats. Advances in Traditional Medicine. 2010;10(3):222-30.
Avinash K, Abha D, Ganesh NS. Peptic ulcer: a review with emphasis on plants from Cucurbetaceae family with antiulcer potential. Int J Res Ayurveda Pharma. 2011;2(6):1714-6.
Vidya R, Kalaivani K. Determination of Free Radical Scavenging Potential in Cucumis melo (L). Fruit Extract. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2021;14(10):5084-8.
Krishna TM, Shiva D, Keerthi D, Nandini A, Aswaq A, Reddy T. In vitro evaluation of antioxidant properties of Cucumis melo L. extracts of leaves and fruit. Int J Pharm Bio Sci. 2013 May 22;4(1):705-12.
Mahjour M, Khoushabi A. A Review Article About Some Herbs Affecting Vitiligo Based on Avicenna’s Canon. Current Drug Discovery Technologies. 2020 Apr 1;17(2):133-7.
Husain MK, Pratap GP, Alam M, Javed G, Minhajuddin A, Khan AA. Traditional Uses and Properties of Indian Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Vitiligo. InMedicinal and Aromatic Plants of India Vol. 2 2023 Nov 1 (pp. 191-212). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Srivastava AK, Mukerjee A, Tripathi A. Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities of Cucumis melo var. momordica fruit extract on experimental animals. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2020 Dec;6:1-9.
Jibril MM, Abdul-Hamid A, Ghazali HM, Dek MS, Ramli NS, Jaafar AH, Karrupan J, Mohammed AS. Antidiabetic antioxidant and phytochemical profile of yellow-fleshed seeded watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) extracts. J. Food Nutr. Res. 2019;7:82-95.
Gopalasatheeskumar K, Kalaichelvan VK, Ariharasivakumar G, Sengottuvel T, Devan VS. In vitro Antidiabetic activity of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Cucumis melo var agrestis (Cucurbitaceae). Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2020;13(12):5851-4.
Fahamiya N, Aslam M, Siddiqui A, Shiffa M, Ahmed A, Khan MS. Pharmacognostical study and development of quality control parameters for Cucumis melo Linn. Am J PharmTech Res. 2012;2(4):1-4.
Saleem A, Islam M, Saeed H, Iqtedar M. In-vivo Evaluation of Anti-urolithiatic Activity of Different Extracts of Peel and Pulp of Cucumis melo L. in Mice Model of Kidney Stone Formation. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 2021 Aug 1;53(4).
Doshi GM, Kanade PP. Evaluation of bioactivity of Cucurbita pepo L., Cucumis melo L. and Cucumis sativus L. seed extracts. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 2019 Apr 1;57(4).
Gomez-Garcia R, Campos DA, Aguilar CN, Madureira AR, Pintado M. Valorization of melon fruit (Cucumis melo L.) by-products: Phytochemical and Biofunctional properties with Emphasis on Recent Trends and Advances. Trends in food science & technology. 2020 May 1;99:507-19.
Djeussi DE, Noumedem JA, Mihasan M, Kuiate JR, Kuete V. Antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of thirteen Cameroonian antibacterial dietary plants. Journal of Chemistry. 2020;2020(1):8886762.
Sivakumar T. Traditional medicine, Phytochemicals and pharmacological applications of common plants in the Cucurbitaceae family–An extensive review. Journal of Xidian University. 2023;17(7):758-67.
Lester G. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit nutritional quality and health functionality. HortTechnology. 1997 Jul 1;7(3):222-7.
Manchali S, Chidambara Murthy KN, Vishnuvardana, Patil BS. Nutritional composition and health benefits of various botanical types of melon (Cucumis melo L.). Plants. 2021 Aug 24;10(9):1755.
Zulfiqar H, Hussain AI, Ali Q, Rathore HA, Ahmed I. Phenolic profile, nutritional potential and biological activities of wildly grown accessions of Cucumis melo var. Agrestis. Journal of King Saud University-Science. 2024 Aug 1;36(7):103276.
Fahamiya N, Aslam M, Siddiqui A, Shiffa M. Review on cucumis melo: ethnobotany and Unani medicine. World J. Pharm. Pharmac. Sci. 2016 Oct 6;5:621-36.
Shafi A, Farooq U, Akram K, Hayat Z. Phytochemistry And Potential Therapeutic Perspective Of Melon Seeds. InBioactive Compounds from Plant Origin 2019 Oct 8 (pp. 185-206). Apple Academic Press.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2025 Neha Yadav, Pinki Jangra, Kirti Yadav
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
AUTHORS WHO PUBLISH WITH THIS JOURNAL AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported License. that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
.