Cucumis sativus
Gherkin plant
Cucumis sativus, commonly known as the cucumber, is a versatile climbing vine highly valued for its cooling properties. Beyond its culinary uses, it serves significant medicinal purposes, offering hydration, skin-soothing benefits, and anti-inflammatory effects. Its high water content and essential nutrients make it a staple in holistic wellness.
- Scientific name: Cucumis sativus
- 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 Cucurbitales, it is classified under the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, its specific genus is identified as 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 sativus, is recognized by various names across different linguistic traditions. In Chinese, it is referred to as 黄瓜, while in Polish, it is called ogórek siewny. The Basque language identifies it as Luzoker, and in Bosnian, it is known as Krastavac. Interestingly, in a historical English context, it can be denoted as Hƿerhƿette.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 黄瓜 | Wikidata |
| pl | ogórek siewny | Wikidata |
| eu | Luzoker | Wikidata |
| bs | Krastavac | Wikidata |
| ang | Hƿerhƿette | Wikidata |
| uz | Bodring | Wikidata |
| hu | uborka | Wikidata |
| sq | trangulli | Wikidata |
| nl | komkommerplant | Wikidata |
| ar | خيار | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes specific territories such as Denmark, Great Britain, and Sweden. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, it has been documented growing within the borders of Austria. Finally, its geographical range extends through the Middle European regions of Czechia and Slovakia.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Eastern Europe | Baltic States | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | DR Congo | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, scientifically known as Cucumis sativus, utilizes various components for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. The most recognizable part is the fruits, commonly known as cucumbers, which are widely consumed for their hydrating properties. Within these fruits, the tiny seeds serve as a vital source of nutrients, and even a single seed contains concentrated bioactive compounds. Additionally, the cucumber leaf tissue can be utilized in various traditional applications, offering unique phytochemical benefits that complement the uses of the plant's reproductive and edible structures.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cucumber leaf tissue | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cucumis sativus has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 63 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include carotenoid, chlorophyll, diazinon, flavonoids, (3S)-(E)-nerolidol.
- Total chemicals
- 59
- Scientific sources
- 63
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| carotenoid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chlorophyll | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diazinon | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (3S)-(E)-nerolidol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 4,8-dimethyl-1,3(E),7-nonatriene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 6-benzyladenine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acid phosphatase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Beta-galactosidase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bl | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Cucumis sativus has 10 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Analgesic, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 14
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Free-Radical Scavenging | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gastroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Refrigerant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cucumis sativus has 33 reported medicinal uses identified across 36 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cucumber mosaic virus, pain, Diabetes mellitus, Inflammation, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
- Total uses
- 33
- Scientific sources
- 36
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cucumber mosaic virus | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| pain | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diabetes mellitus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Proteus vulgaris | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tomato spotted wilt virus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abiotic stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |