Nutritional and medicinal values of cucurbits

1. Submitted by
MONISHA T
NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL VALUE
OF CUCURBITS

2. INTRODUCTION
 Cucurbitaceae is the large group of
summer vegetable crops with more than
130 genera and 800 species.
 Vegetables from this family have been
used for centuries, not only for
consumption, but also for their medicinal
value.
 Seeds from cucurbits have many health
benefits and are a popular snack. Cucurbit
plants are rich in carotenoids, terpenoids,
saponins, and phytochemicals.
 Vegetables from the Cucurbitaceae family
have a positive influence on human health,
and various studies have clearly indicated
that cucurbit vegetables have antioxidant,
antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and
purgative properties.

3. CUCURBITACIN
Present in whole plant
parts. 19 types of
cucurbitacins are present
(A-S)
Bitter principle in cucurbits
is caused by Cucurbitacin
(Tetracyclic terpenes)
Medicinal uses included
emetics, narcotics and
anti-malarials
Cucumber- Cucurbitacin C
&
Watermelon- Cucurbitacin E
Prevents spoilage in
cucurbits and it acts as
pest reflector (Diabotyra
beetle)

4. CROP
Water (g) Energy
(kcal)
CHO (g) Proteins
(g)
Fats
(g)
Fibres
(g)
Cucumber 95.23 15 3.13 0.65 0.11 0.5
Muskmelon 90.15 34 8.16 0.84 0.19 0.9
Watermelon 92 30 7.55 0.61 0.15 0.6
Bottle gourd 94.54 14 3.39 0.62 0.02 1.3
Bitter gourd 87 30 3.7 1 0.2 2.8
Snake gourd 94.6 18 3.3 0.50 0.29 0.8
Pointed gourd 92 24 3.54 1.40 0.30 2.16
Ash gourd 96.25 13 3 0.9 0.01 3
Pumpkin 93.69 20 4.9 0.72 0.07 1.1
Zucchini 93 27 4.6 0.6 0.3 1
NUTRITION CONTENT PER 100 g

5. CROP
A (mg) B1
(mg)
B2
(mg)
B3
(mg)
B5
(mg)
B6
(mg)
B9
(mg)
C
(mg)
Cucumber 0.06 0.03 0.033 0.098 0.259 0.04 0.007 2.8
Muskmelon 0.169 0.041 0.012 0.734 0.105 0.025 0.021 36.7
Watermelon 0.028 0.033 0.021 0.178 0.221 0.045 0.003 8.1
Bottle gourd 0.012 0.029 0.022 0.32 0.152 0.04 0.006 10.1
Bitter gourd 0.015 0 0 0.4 0.2 0 0.072 96
Snake gourd 0.347 0.04 0.06 0.30 0 0 0 5
Pumpkin 0.28 0.031 0.078 0.413 0 0.044 0 4.7
Zucchini 0 0.11 0.03 0.6 0.367 0.1 0 15
VITAMINS CONTENT PER 100 g

6. CROP P
(mg)
K
(mg)
Ca
(mg)
Mg
(mg)
Na
(mg)
Fe
(mg)
Cu
(mg)
Zn
(mg)
Mn
(mg)
Cucumber 24 147 16 13 2 0.28 0 0 0
Muskmelon 0 267 0 12 0 0 0.041 0.18 0.041
Watermelon 11 160 7 10 1 0.24 0.042 0.1 0.038
Bottle gourd 13 150 26 11 2 0.2 0.026 0.7 0.066
Bitter gourd 31 296 19 17 2.4 2 0.19 0.46 0.08
Snake gourd 20 34 50 53 25.4 1.1 0.11 0 0
Pointed gourd 33 117 30 24 2.29 0 0 0.23 0
Pumpkin 0 230 0 0 0 0.57 0.09 0.23 0.089
Zucchini 12 238 15 9 2 0.4 0 0 0
MINERALS CONTENT PER 100 g

7.  Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus
 Chromosome number: 2n=14
Medicinal Uses:
 The excessive internal heat is supposed to be detrimental to body system. If the
body keeps burning continuously more than necessary, the effect on the person is
in extreme exhaustion. So, cucumber juice is highly recommended.
 For quick symptomatic cooling of the head, hand and feet, cucumber paste when
applied on the body part is very effective in bringing a refrigerator effect.
 It may further be mentioned that cucumber juice is commonly used for treating
diseases of teeth and gums.
 Its juice is still useful for rheumatic conditions and healthy growing of hair. The
seed has medicinal properties which is used as tonic and diuretic.
CUCUMBER
Rahman et al. 2008

9.  Botanical name: Cucumis melo L.
 Chromosome number: 2n=24
Medicinal Uses:
 In Ayurveda and Unani medicines, it is said that muskmelon have cooling
effect on human body.
 The fruits are extensively used as dessert fruits and are highly esteemed in
summer months.
 The plants are used against scanty urination, loss of appetite, vomiting,
problems in prostate gland and wound in urinary tract.
 Melon seeds are a dietary source of unsaturated vegetable oil and protein
and may be lightly roasted and eaten like nuts.
 The roots have emetic and purgative properties.
MUSKMELON

11.  Botanical name: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb).
 Chromosome number: 2n=22
Medicinal Uses:
 It is consumed world wide as it contains 90 percent water content, it thus acts as
natural diuretic that cleanses kidney and bladder.
 Specially recommended for women who retain fluids during menstruation and
pregnancy.
 The plants are used to treat fatigueness, typhoid fever, malnutrition and scanty
urination.
 Fruit consumed is believed to reduce asthma attack, improves digestion, cholesterol,
relief from symptoms of arthritis, strengthen immunity and heal wounds.
 Fruits are used as expectorant, diuretic, stomachic and anti-pyretic.
WATERMELON
Khulakpam et al. 2015

13.  Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria
 Chromosome number: 2n=22
Medicinal Uses:
 The bottle gourd fruits and seeds are used for cooling, diuretic and antibilious, dropsy and
anthelmintic respectively; while its oil for relieving headache.
 It is used for other specific treatment of various diseases such as gonorrhea, sleeplessness,
a tag at the anus, etc.
 In case of cuts on feet, a paste of leaves is applied at bed time after washing the cuts till it is
cured.
 Decoction of leaves mixed with sugar is a good medicine for curing jaundice. Warm tender
stem relieves earache. Fruit is used in cholera .
 Good for heart patients and used in weight loss program.
BOTTLE GOURD

15.  Botanical Name: Momordica charantia Linn.
 Chromosome number: 2n=22
Medicinal Uses:
 The fruit acts as an anthelmintic, stomachic, antibilious
and laxative. In fact, it is a tonic fruit, used in
rheumatism, gout, blood disease, asthma and also for
diabetes.
 In case of migraine, the juice of leaf is prepared in which
little salt is mixed, and then a drop is put into nostril on
the same side as the migraine once. A decoction of the
root extract is helpful in abortion and hemorrhoids.
 Cheratin: Hypoglycemic ingredient having anti-diabetic
properties.
 Seed protein ‘Ricine’: Anti-HIV property.
BITTER GOURD
Rahman et al. 2008

16.  Botanical name: Trichosanthes anguina L.
 Chromosome number: 2n=22
Medicinal Uses:
 The leaves and stems are used for the treatment
of skin disease, whereas fruits are used as
appetiser.
 The seeds have deworming properties.
 The fruits are also used as tonic, laxative and
cures biliousness.
 Roots and seeds are used in treatment of
diarrhoea, bronchitis and fever.
 Trichosanthin compound have Anti-HIV property.
SNAKE GOURD

17.  Botanical name: Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.
 Chromosome number: 2n=24
Medicinal Uses:
 The leaves and stems are commonly prescribed for digestive
complaints.
 Fruits are highly useful as mouth freshener and for the
treatment of fever as well as wounds and boils.
 The roots are diuretic and good medicine for convalescence.
 The herbage is extensively used for treatment of different
human ailments.
POINTED GOURD
Khulakpam et al. 2015

18.  Botanical name: Benincasa hispida
 Chromosome number: 2n=24
Medicinal Uses:
 Ash gourd is wholesome and nutritive with high healing and curative properties. It is useful to
diabetic and obese people, because the fruit has low calorific value.
 The fruit is tonic, cooling, diuretic, and purgative. The fruit juice is beneficial in treatment of peptic
ulcer, respiratory trouble and other internal haemorrhage discharges.
 Its regular use relieves piles, diabetes and inflammation in digestive system. It also gives relief in
periodic attacks of hysteria, convulsion and other nervous diseases.
 In case of general debility, a delicacy from fruit pulp by boiling its pieces in water with sugar is used
as a domestic recipe to increase weight, and for treating T.B., heart weakness, thinness of semen
and anaemia.
 The seeds produce fatty oil which is considered as anthelmintic. The shelled seeds are also useful to
expel out intestinal worms.
ASH GOURD

20.  Botanical name: Luffa acutangula
 Chromosome number: 2n=26
Medicinal Uses:
 It is used to cure jaundice.
 In local treatment, leaves are used in
haemorrhoids and leprosy; juice in conjunctivitis.
 Ripe seeds are emetic and purgative.
RIDGE GOURD
Rahman et al. 2008

21. Botanical name: Luffa cylindrica
Chromosome number: 2n=26
Medicinal Uses:
 The plants contain a compound called luffein.
 Juice from the leaves are use to cure conjunctivitis
of the eye.
 The leaves and fruits are good remedies for
Jaundice.
 Roots have laxative effects and the oil from the
seeds is used for cutaneous complaints .
SPONGE GOURD

22.  Botanical name: Cucurbita moschata
 Chromosome number: 2n=40
Medicinal Uses:
 Matured fruits of pumpkin are used as a table vegetable for baking in pies and
for making jam; also as a live stock feed.
 Seeds are tonic and diuretic; while fresh pulps as poultice on boils, burns and
inflammations.
 The young leaves and shoots are mild laxative.
 In local treatment, the year’s old Pumpkin is simply boiled and takes regularly
for about a week to relieve from night-blindness.
PUMPKIN
Khulakpam et al. 2015

24.  Botanical name: Cucurbita pepo
 Chromosome number: 2n=40
Medicinal Uses:
 The fruits are also useful to cure human blindness.
 The fruits are cooling, astringent to the bowels, laxative, good for teeth,
throat, eyes.
 The leaves are digestible, analgesic, remove biliousness and also used
as an external application for burns.
 The seeds are diuretic and cures bronchitis, fever, allays thirst, good for
kidney and brain.
ZUCCHINI

26.  Botanical name: Coccinia grandis L.
 Chromosome number: 2n=24
Medicinal Uses:
 The leaves are used to control skin disease.
 Roots are used against osteoarthritis.
 The fruits are widely used as antidiabetic
and antihistaminic.
 Fruits are also used for the treatment of
leprosy, fever, asthma, bronchitis and
jaundice.
IVY GOURD
Khulakpam et al. 2015

27.  Botanical Name: Sechium edule
 Chromosome number: 2n=28
Medicinal Uses:
 Fruits are used to supplement potatoes for diabetic
patients.
 It contains calcium double the times of carrot and
triple the times of onion; while content of
phosphorous is moderate.
 The fruits are cooling and stomachic; while leaf juice
has transient depressor effect.
CHOW CHOW

28. CONCLUSION
 India is endowed with favourable climatic conditions for growth of
diverse cucurbitaceous vegetables.
 Rich diversity of cucurbits exists in the homestead garden of different
villages of different states.
 The fruits, leaves, flowers and roots of the cucurbitaceae members are
consumed as food.
 This diverse biodiversity possesses a wide array of medicinal properties
such as diuretics, laxatives, hepato protectives, anti-hypertension, anti-
diabetic, astringent, anti-helminthic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic characteristics
which may serve as the poorest of the society to meet the primary health
care needs.

29. THANK YOU