Cucumis sativus medicinal (Cucumis sativus): Benefits, Dosage, Safety & Evidence

Questions fréquentes

How does cucumber help with skin inflammation?

Cucumis sativus exerts its cooling and anti-inflammatory effects primarily through its high water content and specific phytochemicals. Compounds like cucurbitacins and flavonoids act as antioxidants, scavenging free radicals that contribute to skin damage and inflammation. Additionally, the silica content supports connective tissue health. While these mechanisms are biologically plausible, specific clinical trials confirming these pathways in humans are limited, placing the evidence level at C or Traditional use.

Does cucumber interact with any medications?

There are no significant documented drug interactions for Cucumis sativus when consumed in normal dietary amounts. Because cucumber has mild diuretic properties due to its potassium and water content, it could theoretically potentiate the effects of diuretic medications, though this is rarely clinically significant. Patients should monitor for changes in urination frequency or electrolyte balance if consuming large quantities alongside diuretic drugs. Evidence level: C/Traditional.

What is the recommended dosage for medicinal cucumber use?

For general health and kidney support, the traditional adult dosage is consuming one to two medium cucumbers daily as a food. For topical applications, such as treating sunburn or skin inflammation, fresh slices or juice can be applied directly to the affected area as needed. There is no standardized clinical dosage, so these recommendations are based on traditional use (Evidence level C) rather than rigorous clinical trials.

Is cucumber safe to eat during pregnancy?

Yes, Cucumis sativus is considered safe for consumption during pregnancy when eaten in normal dietary amounts. It provides hydration and essential nutrients like potassium. There are no known contraindications or specific safety warnings for pregnant or breastfeeding women. However, as with any raw produce, it is important to wash the skin thoroughly to remove potential pesticide residues or bacteria before consumption. Evidence level: C/Traditional.

Can cucumber be used to treat sunburn?

Cucumber is a popular traditional remedy for soothing sunburn due to its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. The high water content hydrates the skin, while compounds like flavonoids may help reduce local inflammation. Sliced cucumber or cucumber juice is applied topically to the burned area for relief. While widely used in folk medicine (Evidence level C), it should not replace medical treatment for severe burns but serves as an effective supportive therapy for mild cases.

Fiche d'information compilée à partir de PubMed

Cette fiche a été compilée à partir de résumés PubMed (NIH) avec l'assistance d'une IA. Chaque affirmation factuelle est citée par un article PubMed réel (voir la liste des sources). Elle n'a pas encore été révisée par un humain — confirmez auprès d'un professionnel de santé avant utilisation.

Compilé à partir de 30 articles PubMed · modèle : gemma4:31b

Résumé

Cucumis sativus (cucumber) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated worldwide [PMID:30253288, PMID:36616152]. It contains bioactive compounds such as cucurbitacins that exhibit cytotoxic activity [PMID:35182783].

Contexte

Cucumis sativus L. is an annual climbing herb belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family [PMID:36015432]. It is a major horticultural crop grown and consumed globally, characterized by fruits that are typically eaten at an immature stage [PMID:36765113, PMID:36616152].

Composés actifs

The plant contains cucurbitacin C-type cucurbitacins, including several previously undescribed analogues isolated from bitter leaves [PMID:35182783]. Other identified compounds include 4'-ketoriboflavin, which appears under iron-deficient conditions [PMID:26523955], and various oxylipins such as 16-hydroxy-9,12,14-octadecatrienoic acid (16-HOT) [PMID:37629162].

Mécanisme d'action

Cucurbitacin-induced apoptosis in tumor cell lines is likely achieved by down-regulating the expression of caspase-related proteins [PMID:35182783].

Preuves cliniques

Preuve DTumor cell growth (in vitro)

Six cucurbitacin C analogues showed growth inhibition against HepG2, A549, DU145, and HCT116 cell lines; specifically, cucurbitacin C6 and C7 exhibited significant inhibition of the HepG2 cell line [PMID:35182783]

Preuve DSkin health (transgenic model)

Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid demonstrated moisturizing, whitening, and anti-wrinkle effects in zebrafish and human skin experiments, reducing facial wrinkles by 19.58% and melanin content by 5.27% [PMID:38336313]

Synthèse des preuves

The available evidence is primarily based on plant genetics, agricultural research, and in vitro laboratory studies (cell lines and animal/skin models). There are no human clinical trials provided to establish medicinal efficacy or safety.

Sources PubMed

1.PMID: 30253288 (2019) — Molecular basis of cucumber fruit domestication. · Current opinion in plant biology
2.PMID: 35182783 (2022) — Identification of seven undescribed cucurbitacins in Cucumis sativus (cucumber) and their cytotoxic activity. · Phytochemistry
3.PMID: 36616152 (2022) — Morphological and Genetic Diversity of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruit Development. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4.PMID: 38768880 (2024) — Oxylipin biosynthesis via an unprecedented 16-hydroperoxide lyase pathway in green tissues of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. · Phytochemistry
5.PMID: 32347059 (2020) — [Advances in Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transgenic cucumber]. · Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology

Cucumis sativus medicinal

Sources et citations

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