Cucumis melo
Melon plant
Cucumis melo, commonly known as melon, is a versatile plant celebrated for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it supports digestive health, skin vitality, and immune function. Beyond its culinary uses, various extracts are utilized in traditional medicine to combat inflammation and oxidative stress.
- Scientific name: Cucumis melo
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitaleales and the family Cucurbitaceae, it is classified under the genus Cucumis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Cucurbitales | WCVP |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cucumis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Cucumis melo, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Chinese, it is referred to as 甜瓜 (tiánguā), while in Tibetan, it is called ཀུབ་མངར།. In the Basque language, the name used is Meloi, whereas in Polish, it is known as ogórkek melon. Finally, in Quechua, this medicinal plant is called Unukhachun.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 甜瓜 | Wikidata |
| bo | ཀུབ་མངར། | Wikidata |
| eu | Meloi | Wikidata |
| pl | ogórek melon | Wikidata |
| qu | Unukhachun | Wikidata |
| oc | Melon | Wikidata |
| hu | sárgadinnye | Wikidata |
| bn | ফুটি | Wikidata |
| chr | ᎦᏩᏒᎩ | Wikidata |
| el | Πεπόνι | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Cucumis melo, exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands and coastal areas of Great Britain. The species also occupies territories located in Norway. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Cucumis melo, is a versatile species where various components offer distinct medicinal properties. The leaves are often utilized in traditional remedies to address inflammatory conditions, while the fruit itself serves as a nutritious source of hydration and vitamins. Within the culinary and medicinal applications of its fruits, the fruit peel can be processed for its antioxidant compounds, and the seeds are highly valued for their rich oil content and nutritional density.- Total parts
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 9
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit peel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cucumis melo has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 30 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cucurbitacin E, 1-naphthalene acetic acid, CAT, H2O2, L-methionine.
- Total chemicals
- 28
- Scientific sources
- 30
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cucurbitacin E | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 1-naphthalene acetic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CAT | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| H2O2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| L-methionine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MDA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| POD | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SOD | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aldehydes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alkanes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cucumis melo has 14 reported activities identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Abortifacient, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antitumor.
- Total activities
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitumor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiobesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antispasmodic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Apoptotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cucumis melo has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, cancer, Diabetes mellitus, antidiabetic, benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- Total uses
- 16
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| benign prostatic hyperplasia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood sugar | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chronic pain | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic effects | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| edema | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |