ETHNOMEDICINAL USES AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF CUCUMIS SATIVUS LINN: AN UPDATE

Increasing demand of herbal medicines in the treatment of diseases has once again gained the immense importance due to its viable efficacy and compliance to the patients. Cucumis sativus L. is commonly known as cucumber and Khayarain in Unani medicine. It is found wildly in the Himalayan regions and also cultivated throughout India. Maghze tukhme khayarain (seeds of Cucumis) is in use in traditional Unani medicine for various ailments such as Waram al-mathana (Cystitis), ziabetes (Diabetes), waram al-shoab (bronchitis), zaheer (diarrhoea), and renal diseases as it possesses musakkin-i-safra (yellow bile), muskkain-i-hiddat–i-dam(blood), Muhallil (anti-inflammatory) and Mudi-i-bawl (diuretic) properties. Not only seeds but other parts of the Cucumis such as root, leaves, flower, and fruits are also useful in various diseases. Further, the various part of the plant contains phytochemical constituents such as potassium, cucurbitacin A, B, C and D, flavanoid-fisetin, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, lariciresinol, pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol, saponin and hypo-xanthine. Furthermore, it is pharmacologically proven for analgesic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, diuretic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective and wound healing activities. As the world is turning back towards the herbal drug, it is need of the hour to re-evaluate the knowledge of traditional medicine through reverse pharmacology and review it.