Botanical description, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of species of the genus Cucumis L.: A review

• Autor(a) principal: da Silva, Elizandra Maria
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: dos Santos Magalhães, Cledson, Perrelli Randau, Karina
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Diversitas Journal
• Texto Completo: https://diversitasjournal.com.br/diversitas_journal/article/view/2536
• topic: Cucurbitaceae; Maxixe; Aspecto botânica; Química; Farmacologia; Cucurbitaceae; Gherkin; Botanical aspect; Chemistry; Pharmacology

The use of medicinal plants follows the evolution of humanity, such practice has always been based on evidence and popular knowledge. Therefore, plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family are widely used in traditional medicine and have great economic importance, such as Cucumis anguria L. and Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. ex Spach species. These species are used in folk medicine to treat pneumonia, hyperglycemia, wounds, and malaria. In this context, we aim to describe the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of these species. A narrative literature review was carried out through a bibliographic search of articles available in online scientific databases such as the National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Science Direct, Google Scholar and Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), with no limited time frame. Botanically, the Cucumis anguria and Cucumis dipsaceus species are very similar, both are climbing plants, branched, with lobed leaves and pentamerous yellow inflorescences. We verify that, the main morphological difference is in the dense coating of trichomes of Cucumis dipsaceus. Pharmacological evidence is extensive, proving antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial action for Cucumis anguria; and analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective action for Cucumis dipsaceus. The phytochemical profile shows the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and carbohydrates in both species. Cucumis anguria and Cucumis dipsaceus have pharmacological potential and wide popular use, however they need better evaluations regarding their biological, chemical and toxicological descriptions, to enable the safe use of those plants.