Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad (bitter apple fruit) from traditional medicine to the food industry: A narrative review
Subject Areas : Journal of Food Safety and Processing
Mojtaba Ziaee
1
(
Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran.
)
Masoud Delashoub
2
(
Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz
)
Keywords:
Abstract :
Citrullus colocynthis is a plant with medicinal value that is widely distributed in the desert regions of the world. Its fruits are commonly known for their wide range of medicinal uses as well as medicinal and food potential. The aim of this article is to evaluate the published information about the plant, its nutritional potential, and medicinal uses for humans and livestock, as well as fruit safety studies and the potential for future studies. The literature review was conducted by searching scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, as well as published books. This plant has a wide range of traditional medicinal uses including diabetes, cold, cough, asthma, bronchitis, jaundice, joint pain, cancer, toothache, wound, mastitis, and digestive disorders such as indigestion, constipation, dysentery, and gastroenteritis, and various microbial infections. Several bioactive chemical compounds were recorded from fruits such as glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, fatty acids, and essential oils. Isolation and identification of cucurbitacins and colocyntosides were also reported. It was also shown that this plant is rich in nutritional value with high protein content and essential minerals, as well as the edible quality of the seed oil. This plant has many useful uses in treating various human and animal diseases. Therefore, the primary goal of this article is to provide an overview of the findings of the positive effects and risks of Citrullus colocynthis consumption on human health and its application in food and veterinary industries.
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