Citrullus lanatus, Watermelon, Darbis, Tarbooz, sandía, Vesimeloni

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai
Family: Cucurbitaceae

Synonyms: Anguria citrullus Mill., Citrullus amarus Schrad., Citrullus anguria (Duchesne) H.Hara, Citrullus aquosus Schur, Citrullus battich Forssk., Citrullus caffer Schrad., Citrullus caffrorum Schrad., Citrullus chodospermus Falc. & Dunal, Citrullus citrullus H.Karst., Citrullus citrullus Small, Citrullus colocynthis var. capensis Alef., Citrullus colocynthis var. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Citrullus edulis Spach, Citrullus edulis Pangalo, Citrullus lanatus var. albidus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus f. amarus (Schrad.) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes, Citrullus lanatus var. caffer (Schrad.) Mansf. ex Fursa, Citrullus lanatus var. caffrorum (Alef.) Fosberg, Citrullus lanatus var. capensis (Alef.) Fursa, Citrullus lanatus subsp. cordophanus Ter-Avan., Citrullus lanatus var. cordophanus (Ter-Avan.) Fursa, Citrullus lanatus var. fistulosus (Steward) Babu, Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus, Citrullus lanatus var. minor (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus subsp. mucosospermus Fursa, Citrullus lanatus f. nigroseminius (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. oblongus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. pulcherrimus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. pumilus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. rotundus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. senegalicus Fursa, Citrullus lanatus var. shami (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. variegatus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. virgatus (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus lanatus var. viridis (Chakrav.) Maheshw., Citrullus mucosospermus (Fursa) Fursa, Citrullus mucosospermus var. senegalicus (Fursa) Fursa, Citrullus pasteca Sageret, Citrullus vulgaris Schrad., Citrullus vulgaris var. caffrorum Alef., Citrullus vulgaris var. fistulosus Steward, Colocynthis amarissima Schrad., Colocynthis amarissima Schltdl., Colocynthis citrullus (L.) Kuntze, Colocynthis citrullus Fritsch, Cucumis amarissimus Schrad., Cucumis citrullus (L.) Ser., Cucumis citrullus var. jace Ser., Cucumis citrullus var. pasteca Ser., Cucumis dissectus Decne., Cucumis edulis Steud., Cucumis laciniosus Eckl. ex Steud., Cucumis laciniosus Eckl. ex Schrad., Cucumis vulgaris (Schrad.) E.H.L.Krause, Cucurbita anguria Duchesne, Cucurbita caffra Eckl. & Zeyh., Cucurbita citrullus L., Cucurbita gigantea Salisb., Cucurbita pinnatifida Schrank, Momordica lanata Thunb.

• Common name: Watermelon
• Bengali: Tormuj
• Chinese: 寒瓜
• Croatian: lubenica
• Dutch: Watermeloen
• Finnish: Vesimeloni
• Gujarati: ઇંદ્રક Indrak
• Hindi: तरबूज़ Tarbooz
• Kannada: Kallangadi balli
• Manipuri: তৰবুজ Tarbuj
• Marathi: Kadu vrindavana
• Portuguese: Melancia
• Spanish: sandía
• Swedish: vattenmelon
• Tamil: Darbis
• Telugu: పుచ్చ putcha, కలెంగడి kalengadi
• Urdu: Tarbooz

Description: Annual herb with prostrate of climbing stems up to 10 m long, covered in long spreading hairs, particularly when young. Tendrils2-3-fid. Leaves more or less narrowly ovate in outline, up to 20 × 19 cm, usually deeply palmately 3-5 lobed with lobes elliptic in outline and often lobed again; hairy when young, particularly on the veins beneath, becoming roughly punctate when oleder; margins almost entire or obscurely and finely sinuate-dentate. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow, unisexual on the same plant. Fruit smooth, in wild plants 1.5-20 cm long, greenish with darker mottling; cultivated fruits much larger and often more elongated ellipsoid, up to 60 × 30 cm. 

Used in Ayurveda. Stems for sinusitis. Leaves and roots for dysentery;  root  juice  to  stop  bleeding.  Seeds  expectorant, hypotensive, an infusion taken for kidney trouble; a decoction  taken  as  a  diuretic;  kernels  cooling,  diuretic.  Fruits  diuretic, used for fever, jaundice, sunstroke, nephritis, diabetes. Magico-religious beliefs, ritual, superstitions, unripened plant considered poisonous. Veterinary medicine, seeds infusion given to horses for gravel. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]

Pulp—cooling and refreshing, a rich source of pectin, carotenoids, surcose (as major sugar). Fruit juice is prescribed in strangury and urinary complaints, also in hepatic congestion and intestinal catarrh. Seeds—cooling, purgative, diuretic, demulcent (used in urinary infections). Leaves—febrifuge. The pericarp is given in diarrhoea. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]

In China, the pulp and the rind are eaten to treat diabetes and jaundice, and to expel impurities. The pulp is used to soothe an inflamed throat, heal sores in the mouth and to fight dependence on alcohol. In India, the unripe fruits are used to strengthen, promote libido and to treat jaundice and fever. The seeds are used to promote libido, and the leaves are used to check bleeding. In Indonesia, the fruits are used to assuage rheumatic pains. In Malaysia, the juice of the roots is used to check bleeding after an abortion. In Palau, the fruits are used to treat beriberi and cystitis. In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, the pulp and rind are eaten to regulate motion. [Medicinal Plants: Drugs For The Future? ]

 Leaf  and  Seed:  In  French  Guiana,  an  emulsion  of  seeds  and  crushed  leaves  makes  an excellent cataplasm applied warm for intestinal inflammation. Fruit: Pulp is refreshing; juice used as a refreshing wash. [Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana) ]

37 Published articles of Citrullus lanatus
1.    Phytochemical screening and antidiabetic effect of extracts of the seeds of Citrullus lanatus in alloxan-induced diabetic albino mice Sani, U.M., Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2015. 5(3): p. 51-54.
2.    Phytochemicals and antioxidants in watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus) genotypes under hot arid region Choudhary, B.R., et al., Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2015. 85(3): p. 414-417.
3.    Antibacterial activity of watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus) seed against selected microorganisms Adunola, A.A.T., et al., African Journal of Biotechnology, 2015. 14(14): p. 1224-1229.
4.    Gastroprotective activity of reconstituted red fruit pulp concentrate of Citrullus lanatus in rats Sharma, S., et al., Ancient science of life, 2014. 34(2): p. 103-8.
5.    Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activities of Citrullus lanatus seed against some pathogenic microorganisms Nwankwo, I.U., et al., World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2014. 3(8): p. 57-67.
6.    Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) Juice Modulates Oxidative Damage Induced by Low Dose X-Ray in Mice Mohammad, M.K.A., et al., Biomed Research International, 2014.
7.    Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) juice modulates oxidative damage induced by low dose X-ray in mice Mohammad, M.K.A., et al., BioMed research international, 2014. 2014: p. 512834-512834.
8.    Protective Renal Tubular Effects Ethyl Acetate Extract from Citrullus lanatus Vine in Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy Liu, J., et al., Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2014. 49(24): p. 2173-2176.
9.    Ameliorative effects of the methanolic extract of the rind of Citrullus lanatus on lead acetate induced toxicity on semen parameters and reproductive hormones of Male albino Wistar rats Kolawole, T.A., D.V. Dapper, and S.O. Ojeka, European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2014. 4(9): p. 1125-1137.
10.    Effect of Citrullus lanatus seeds extracts on serum total testosterone in rat Khaki, A., et al., Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences, 2014. 1(1): p. 25-27.
11.    Hypoglycemic Effects of Different Fractions from Citrullus lanatus Vine on Diabetic Model Induced by Alloxan in Mice Gong, X., et al., Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2014. 49(14): p. 1216-1221.
12.    Effects of Hexadecanoic acid on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp niveum control and on growth of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Chu, L., et al., Allelopathy Journal, 2014. 34(2): p. 241-252.
13.    Citrullus lanatus Extract Reverses Oxidative and Haematological Dysfunction in Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Damaged Rats Adebayo, A.H., et al., International Journal of Pharmacology, 2014. 10(4): p. 218-224.
14.    Radical scavenging activity of novel phenolic glycosides from Citrullus lanatus Adebayo, A.H., et al., Planta Medica, 2014. 80(10): p. 783-783.
15.    Hepatoprotective properties of the leaf extract of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage in rats Adebayo, A., T. Balogun, and O. Yakubu, Planta Medica, 2014. 80(16): p. 1527-1528.
16.    Renoprotective Activity of Citrullus Lanatus Rind Extract on Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Renal Damage in Rats Srinivasan, P., et al., Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 2013. 45: p. S215-S215.
17.    Citrullus lanatus 'sentinel' (watermelon) extract reduces atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice Poduri, A., et al., Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2013. 24(5): p. 882-886.
18.    The Effects of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Extracts and L-Citrulline on Rat Uterine Contractility Munglue, P., et al., Reproductive Sciences, 2013. 20(4): p. 437-448.
19.    Cucurbitane-type Triterpenes from Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) Seeds Kikuchi, T., et al., Natural Product Communications, 2013. 8(10): p. 1367-1369.
20.    In-vitro antibacterial study of Aquilaria agallocha heart wood oil and Citrullus lanatus seed oil Ghosh, T.K., et al., Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences, 2013. 1(1): p. 13-15.
21.    In vitro antioxidant activity and nitric oxide scavenging activity of Citrullus lanatus seeds Etim, O.E., S.E. Ekanem, and S.M. Sam, Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2013. 3(12): p. 126-132.
22.    Phytochemical and in vitro total antioxidant capacity analyses of peel extracts of different cultivars of Cucumis melo and Citrullus lanatus Asghar, M.N., et al., Pharmaceutical Biology, 2013. 51(2): p. 226-232.
23.    Antibacterial Activities of Nonionic and Anionic Surfactants From Citrullus lanatus Seed Oil Adewuyi, A., R.A. Oderinde, and A.O. Ademisoye, Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 2013. 6(3): p. 205-208.
24.    Effects of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus on the histology of the kidney of adult wistar rats Oyewo, O.O., et al., World Applied Sciences Journal, 2012. 17(9): p. 1178-1181.
25.    Lycopene content, a.c.a.c.a.o.s.w.C.l.T.M.c.g.i.I.N., Shweta, et al., International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2012. 63(8): p. 996-1000.
26.    Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Citrullus lanatus seed oil by in-vivo and in-vitro models Madhavi, P., et al., International Research Journal of Pharmaceutical and Applied Sciences, 2012. 2(4): p. 104-108.
27.    Quantitative determination, M.a.a.A.e.o.M.s.e.o.C.l.T.C.i.R.L., Okunrobo O., et al., Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 2012. 2(Suppl. 3): p. S1261-S1265.
28.    Effects of methanolic extract of Citrullus lanatus seed on experimentally induced prostatic hyperplasia Olamide, A.A., et al., European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2011. 1(4): p. 171-179.
29.    In vitro Antimicrobial activities of chloroformic, h.a.e.e.o.C.l.v.c.W.m.H., Loiy Elsir Ahmed, et al., Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2011. 5(8): p. 1338-1344.
30.    In vitro antigiardial activity of Citrullus lanatus Var. citroides extracts and cucurbitacins isolated compounds Hassan, L.E.A., et al., Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 2011. 5(15): p. 3338-3346.
31.    Evaluation of Antioxidant and Anti-ulcerative Potential of Citrullus lanatus Seed Extract in Rats Gill, N.S., et al., Latin American Journal of Pharmacy, 2011. 30(3): p. 429-434.
32.    Dynamic changes in the leaf proteome of a C-3 xerophyte, C.l.w.w., in response to water deficit Akashi, Kinya, et al., Planta, 2011. 233(5): p. 947-960.
33.    Anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E isolated from Citrullus lanatus var. citroides: Role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition Abdelwahab, S.I., et al., Fitoterapia, 2011. 82(8): p. 1190-1197.
34.    Evaluation of antioxidant, a.-i.a.a.p.o.C.l.s.e.i.r.m.G., N. S., et al., Internet Journal of Nutrition and Wellness, 2010. 9(2): p. unpaginated-unpaginated.
35.    Ethylene-induced gene expression, e.a., and water soaking in immature and ripe watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit Karakurt, Y. and D.J. Huber, Journal of Plant Physiology, 2004. 161(4): p. 381-388.
36.    Efficacy and economics of rodenticides for rodent management in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fields Kumar, P., et al., Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1997. 67(11): p. 528-530.
37.    BETA-DEUTERIUM-GLUCOPYRANOSYLSTIGMAST-7-ENE 3BETA-OL IROM CITRULLUS-LANATUS-VAR-CITROIDES Seifert, K. and H. Budzikiewicz, Pharmazie, 1977. 32(2): p. 125-126.