colocynth

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bitter apple
• bitter cucumber
• colocynth
• vine of Sodom
• bitter-apple
• bitter-cucumber
• vine-of-Sodom
• wild gourd
• Paddymelon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Citrullus colocynthis subsp. insipidus
• Citrullus colocynthis subsp. stenotomus
• Citrullus colocynthis var. wenderothii
• Citrullus colocynthis var. bipinnatifidus
• Citrullus colocynthis var. officinalis
• Cucurbita colocyntha
• Cucumis colocynthis
• Colocynthis officinalis
• Citrullus colocynthoides
• Citrullus colocynthis var. indicus
• Citrullus colocynthis var. insipidus
• Cucumis colocynthoides
• Citrullus colocynthis var. stenotomus
• Citrullus pseudocolocynthis
• Colocynthis vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitales, it is classified under the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Citrullus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its distribution can be observed specifically within Germany and Hungary. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species is found in Southwestern Europe, inhabiting areas such as Spain and the island of Corse. Furthermore, its range extends into Southeastern Europe, where it is documented in Bulgaria. Consequently, these locations highlight the plant's ability to adapt to various European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Citrullus colocynthis is characterized by its ability to thrive in harsh, arid environments, specifically within habitats such as desert regions, sandy terrains, and disturbed areas like crop fields. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Its presence in sandy and desert landscapes highlights its specialized adaptation to nutrient-poor, well-drained soils and low-moisture conditions.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, sand

Life history

The life history of Citrullus colocynthis is characterized by a versatile growth strategy, functioning primarily as a perennial plant, although its lifecycle can exhibit variability depending on environmental stability and moisture availability. In terms of its structural adaptation to various climates, it exhibits a dual life form classification, manifesting as both a hemicryptophyte and a chamaephyte. This suggests that while the plant possesses the ability to survive through dormant stages where buds are located at or near the soil surface, it also maintains a low-growing stature typical of plants that hug the ground to endure harsh, arid conditions.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Citrullus colocynthis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. As a terrestrial plant, it typically manifests as an obligatory vine, utilizing a rambling or prostrate shoot orientation to spread across the ground. The plant reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 2 m, with its shoots capable of extending up to a maximum length of 200 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot length max:

200 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Citrullus colocynthis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant's foliage features an alternate leaf arrangement, with individual leaves exhibiting an oblong form. These leaves vary significantly in size, with a minimum length of 2 cm and a maximum length of 15 cm, while their width ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the available soil nutrients for its growth and development.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Citrullus colocynthis is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating external agents for successful fertilization. The flowering process typically begins in April and concludes in August, featuring green-colored flowers that rely on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Following fertilization, the plant produces green fruits that range in width from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. These fruits contain a high volume of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.0404 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.0246 g to a maximum of 0.0721 g. Dispersal of the seeds is categorized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it is also noted to be anthropochorous, meaning human activity plays a role in its distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit colour :

green

Fruit width max:

10 cm

Fruit width min:

5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.07212 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0404493635 g

Seed mass min:

0.02464 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Citrullus colocynthis has 5 reported plant parts identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Bioorganic chemistry
4. Bioinformation
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Seed

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
4. Molecular biotechnology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Pest management science
4. Ancient science of life
5. Pharmacognosy research

Root

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
4. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Chemicals

Citrullus colocynthis has 97 reported phytochemicals identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Glycosides, Cucurbitacins, polyphenols, Cucurbitacin E.

Flavonoids

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
5. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society

Glycosides

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Cucurbitacins

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Scientific reports
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

polyphenols

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Cucurbitacin E

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Fatty acids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(1S,2R)-2-(4-Allyl-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanol

1. Current issues in molecular biology

(S)-5-Allyl-2-((1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl)oxy)-1,3-dimethoxybenzene

1. Current issues in molecular biology

4-Isopropyl-1,6-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene

1. Current issues in molecular biology

8-HYDROXYQUINOLINE

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Citrullus colocynthis has 395 reported activities identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Anticancer, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of integrative medicine
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics
5. Bioinformation

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
5. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society
4. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
3. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of integrative medicine
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Citrullus colocynthis has 67 reported medicinal uses identified across 37 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, antidiabetic, Escherichia coli, jaundice, Candida albicans.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations