Article

Evaluating the potential benefits of cucumbers for improved health and skin care

Authors:
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-University of Tripoli
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Abstract

Epidemiological and nutritional studies indicate that cucumbers, a fruit in the cucurbitaceae family, have numerous benefits internally, externally and even emotionally. As a food, cucumbers offer superior hydration, as they are about 95% water. They have been used for decades for their anti-inflammatory benefits on skin, soothing properties for digestion, and other therapeutic uses. The following contribution offers an overview of cucumbers, specifically, their use to augment cellular water and address common conditions (i.e.: skin discoloration and aging, cardiovascular and cancerous diseases, bone health, inflammation, and connective tissue disorders).

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... Many of these antioxidants have been used in making skincare formulations and have contributed to skin rejuvenation [1]. Cucumber extracts, which are rich in vitamins, such as vitamin A and C, and antioxidants, have been proven to have various effects on the skin, such as soothing of irritated skin, moisturization, anti-inflammatory, sebum secretion inhibitory, and melanin synthesis inhibitory effects [2][3][4]. As a superfood for the skin, cucumber extract has been added to various skin care products, such as toner, lotion, and cream. ...
... Even though vitamin C in cucumber extract was lost during fermentation, fermented cucumber extract was compensated with a range of compounds at high concentration, which have significant value in skincare. It can be said that the skincare value of fermented cucumber extract was substantially increased compared to the original cucumber extract that is already wellknown for its benefit [2,3]. ...
... Even though vitamin C in cucumber extract was lost during fermentation, fermented cucumber extract was compensated with a range of compounds at high concentration, which have significant value in skincare. It can be said that the skincare value of fermented cucumber extract was substantially increased compared to the original cucumber extract that is already well-known for its benefit [2,3]. ...
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Magnesium is an essential element involved in various biochemical processes in the human body. In addition to oral supplementation, topical magnesium application is another conventional form of magnesium delivery for the treatment of skin diseases and muscle inflammation. Cucumber extract is a well-known superfood for human skin. It has been widely used in various skincare product lines because of its known benefits to the skin. The benefit of cucumber extract to the human skin would be significantly enhanced if the cucumber extract was fermented to convert the reducing sugars to beneficial organic acids. In this study, we developed a protocol for lactic acid fermentation of cucumber extract using hydromagnesite as a neutralizing agent. Various lactic acid bacteria were screened for fermentation of cucumber extract. The best fermenting performance was observed with Lactobacillus paracasei, which could convert approximately 13 g/L of reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) to lactic acid and a minor amount of acetic acid within 2 days of incubation. The final fermented cucumber extract contains magnesium in the form of salts of organic acids, which have high absorption ability and bioavailability. The product is a potent ingredient for producing dermal magnesium products.
... The fruits of the cucumber plant C. sativus consist for more than 90% of water [97], and contain, among others, vitamin K, B vitamins, as well as vitamin C and other antioxidants such as β-carotene, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds [98,99]. The high water contents is considered beneficial to the skin [97,100], while the antioxidants may protect the skin from the effects of ageing [101,102]. ...
... The fruits of the cucumber plant C. sativus consist for more than 90% of water [97], and contain, among others, vitamin K, B vitamins, as well as vitamin C and other antioxidants such as β-carotene, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds [98,99]. The high water contents is considered beneficial to the skin [97,100], while the antioxidants may protect the skin from the effects of ageing [101,102]. For these reasons, C. sativus fruits, fruit extracts, fruit water, fruit juice, and seed extracts are abundantly used as skin-conditioning agents and included in numerous cosmetic formulations [97,100,103]. ...
... The high water contents is considered beneficial to the skin [97,100], while the antioxidants may protect the skin from the effects of ageing [101,102]. For these reasons, C. sativus fruits, fruit extracts, fruit water, fruit juice, and seed extracts are abundantly used as skin-conditioning agents and included in numerous cosmetic formulations [97,100,103]. A few are foundations, facial and eye makeup, face and neck products, cleansing products, skin-hydrating products, bath foams, soaps and detergents, facial peel-off masks, hair care products, nail care products, body and hand lotions, and products for skin rejuvenation [97,100,103]. ...
... Cucumber is used as a vegetable crop while its fruits are used for pickling or salad purposes in India.It is also high in water (95%) and low in calories, fat, cholesteroland sodium. It has been used for its antiinflammatory benefits on the skin, soothing properties for digestion and other therapeutic uses (Murad and Nyc, 2016). The devastating effects that fruit flies inflict on the horticultural industry worldwide and the transboundary nature of their problem has placed them at the top of the world's list of key pests of cucurbits (Enkerlin, 2003). ...
... The fruits have antioxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity and offer superior hydration (high in water with 95 %). They have been used for their anti-inflammatory benefits on skin and soothing properties for digestion (Murad & Nyc 2016). Cucumber contributes quite a bit in the agri-cultural economy in Iraq. ...
Article
Fungal diversity associated with Bemisia tabaci (Hemip-tera: Aleyrodidae) on cucumber and comparative effectiveness of bioassay methods in identifying the most virulent entomopath-ogenic fungi.-Sydowia 75: 269-282. Bemisia tabaci is a serious pest of cucumber, in Iraq, that reduces the income of farmers by high losses in yield. This study aimed to identify entomopathogenic fungi from whitefly cadavers and to evaluate their relative frequency and various structural attributes. The suitability of two bioassay methods and the virulence of two entomopathogenic fungal species were evaluated for management of B. tabaci under greenhouse condition. Out of the 16 fungal species isolated from the whitefly cadavers, only two species were confirmed microscopically as known entomopathogenic species: Mucor sp. and Purpureocillium lilacinum with a relative frequency of 8.65 and 5.82 %, respectively. Results of the principle component analysis indicated that the first two PCs explained 99.30 %. Three factors had a significant positive correlation with relative frequency of the fungal species which are species diversity (r= 0.983), Simpson's concentration of dominance (r= 0.951) and equitability of evenness (r= 0.996). The greatest mortality effect on B. tabaci nymphs and adults due to P. lilacinum and Mucor sp. was recorded on the 7thday after inoculation, with an average mortality more than 60 % (with concentration of 106 conidia/ml). P. lilacinum and Mucor sp. were significantly twice as virulent to nymphs than to adults. However, no significant differences were observed between mortality rates of the two methods. To control B. tabaci nymphs and adults in the field within IPM strategies, we recommend more trials in order to analyze the real efficacy of P. lilacinum and Mucor sp. under field conditions.
... According to FAOSTAT (2020), it is grown on more than two million hectares, making it the fourth most widely produced vegetable crop globally, after tomato, cabbage, and onion. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and K, potassium, and manganese (Murad and Nyc 2016). ...
... The hormonal components in contraceptives can trigger changes in melanin production and accelerate the development of melasma in some women who are prone to this condition. [1][2][3][4][5] Melasma does not cause pain but reduces selfconfidence in sufferers. The current management of melasma is in the form of a fairly invasive procedure by doing a peel or exfoliating process for skin that has melasma. ...
Article
Cucumber is one of the natural ingredients that has been widely used traditionally to maintain facial skin health. Cucumber is rich in antioxidants which have the potential to suppress the inflammatory process that arises due to hormonal imbalances in melasma sufferers due to the use of injectable contraception. This study aimed to determine the effect of using a cucumber mask on the incidence of melasma in acceptors injection contraception users at the independent midwife practice in Bungursari, Purwakarta, Indonesia. This study was an experimental study in which a total of 30 research subjects participated in this study. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 25 software in a bivariate manner to determine the effect of using cucumber masks on melasma. After using the cucumber mask on the first day, there was an improvement in melasma in the intervention group compared to before using the cucumber mask, p=0.02 (p<0.05). Likewise, after using the cucumber mask on the second to the seventh day, there was an improvement in melasma in the intervention group compared to before using the cucumber mask, p <0.05. In conclusion, there is an effect of using a cucumber mask on melasma in acceptors of injection contraception users at the independent midwife practice in Bungursari, Purwakarta, Indonesia.
... The cucumber is a high water content vegetable that is high in potassium, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin. [2] stated that cucumbers are one of the most versatile vegetables, since they may be utilized topically and they help to control stress. Additionally, cucumbers assist in relaxation and aid in digestion, and they reinforce cells by keeping them hydrated so they can perform efficiently. ...
Article
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Bruise damage is one of the mechanical injuries that fresh produce can sustain during the postharvest supply chain. The study investigated the effect of drop impact levels, storage temperatures , and the storage period on the quality changes of cucumbers. A known mass ball was used to damage cucumbers once from three different drop heights (30, 60, and 90 cm) before they were stored for 24 days at 5 °C, 10 °C, and 22 °C. The data showed that the bruise area (BA), bruise susceptibility (BS), yellowness, and chroma* increased with the increase in the drop height and storage temperature. The study found that the bruise area (BA) and bruise susceptibility (BS) of the damaged cucumbers increased substantially (p < 0.05) with the increase in storage temperature and drop height. Due to the increment in drop height, storage temperature, and the storage period, the weight loss (Wl)% significantly increased after 24 days of storage. The storage period affects the firmness of damaged cucumbers stored in all storage conditions. The highest value of lightness (L*) was observed for the cucumbers bruised from the 60 cm drop height and stored at 22 °C with a value of 43.08 on day 24 of storage. Hue*, redness (a*), and total soluble solids (TSS) were all unaffected by the drop height. This study can serve as a resource for horticultural researchers and experts involved in the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain. The study pays attention to the importance of post-harvest supply chain activities, such as handling and storage to maintain the quality and prolong the shelf life of perishable produce, such as cucumbers.
... Cucumber contains 90% water, which flushes out many Research Article hazardous substances and maintains the body hydrated. Incorporating cucumber into daily diets can lead to excellent health benefits as it contains many essential nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, folic acid, silicon, copper, and potassium (Kumar et al., 2014;Murad and Nyc, 2016). ...
Article
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Nepal possesses a rich diversity of cucumber landraces and their wild relatives. The first step towards harnessing the potential of these landraces in crop improvement programs is to identify the amount of genetic variation present among them. This research aimed to evaluate 18 cucumber accessions collected from different regions of Nepal and assess their agro-morphological variation in terms of yield and yield-associated traits under polyhouse condition. A research trial was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with two replicates at the National Agriculture Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRC), Khumaltar in 2019. The accessions were characterized using various qualitative and quantitative descriptors, with six focusing on traits related to the fruits of the plant and three on phenology and morphology. The results revealed significant variations among the genotypes for all studied traits. Bhaktapur Local was an excellent genotype for recording yield and associated traits, like fruit dimension, number of fruits per plant and yield per plant, making it the most promising genotype, however, Genebank accessions, such as NGRC08671, NGRC07716 and NGRC08668 could be excellent choices for yield associated traits. Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between yield and fruit length, fruit width, and total number of fruits per plant, while vine length was positively correlated with the total number of fruits produced per plant. This study identified several genotypes with desirable traits for yield and yield-associated characteristics, which could be valuable in the development of high-yielding cucumber varieties with superior morphological and agronomic traits in the future. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 11(1): 30-36.
... However, cucumber is a very temperature-sensitive commodity. When the temperature is lower than 10 • C, many chilling injury (CI) symptoms, such as surface pitting, water spots, scale depressions, tissue collapse and decay, are prone to occur in cucumber [2]. CI symptoms reduce the shelf life of cucumber fruit and caused huge economic losses. ...
Article
Full-text available
Although low-temperature storage could maintain the quality of fruits and vegetables, it may also result in chilling injury (CI) in cold-sensitive produce, such as cucumbers. This can seriously affect their quality.” The antioxidant capacity, energy metabolism and proline metabolism of cucumbers treated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were studied in this assay. The outcomes displayed that H2S treatment effectively reduced CI and delayed the increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In addition, the H2S-treated cucumber fruit exhibited higher L* and hue angle values, as well as nutrients such as ascorbic acid (AsA). The H2S-treated fruit showed lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher antioxidant enzyme activities. Meanwhile, H2S treatment also increased the activities of the essential enzymes involved in energy metabolism, including cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), H+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, which improved the energy supply. H2S induced higher ornithine δ-aminotransferase (OAT) and Δ-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) activities, and reduced proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity, promoting the accumulation of proline. These results indicated that H2S could alleviate CI in the cucumber fruit by modulating antioxidant capacity, energy metabolism and proline metabolism, thereby extending the shelf life of postharvest cucumbers.
... In Poland, cucumber production under covers (in greenhouses and plastic tunnels) is carried out in an area of over 1000 hectares and results in harvesting about 300,000 tonnes of fruits per year [2,3]. Cucumber fruits are a low-calorie, alkaline component of the human diet, containing numerous minerals (including potassium, calcium and magnesium), vitamins (e.g., K, C, folate), carotenoids, flavonoids and triterpenes [4,5]. plant active substances, carotenoids belong to the groups of special interest as vitamin A precursors, antioxidants and potential anti-cancer agents [26]. ...
Article
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Supplemental lighting with light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and/or high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps was applied to increase the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and thus productivity of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in a high-wire growing system. The colocalisation of the chlorophyll of PSII (located mainly in grana) and carotenoid fluorescence signals in chloroplasts of cucumber leaves was studied under confocal microscopy. Leaf anatomy and some chemical quality traits (dry matter, chlorophyll, carotenoids, total soluble solids, total sugars and nitrate reductase activity) as well as selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were also investigated and subjected to the multidimensional principal component analysis together with the data on fruit yield. Under LED lighting, a lower correlation between the occurrence of chlorophyll and carotenoid fluorescence signals was observed, especially in older (lower-located) leaves, which may have resulted from changes in the distribution of carotenoids within chloroplasts and/or relative concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoids. Compared to toplighting with HPS lamps, most commonly used in commercial greenhouse cucumber production, the application of LED interlighting, especially in combination with LED toplighting, led to the increase in chlorophyll and carotenoid content and photosynthetic performance index in older leaves, which was related to the increased cucumber productivity.
... In Pakistan, area under cucumber cultivation and production is 1772 ha and 44919 tons (FAO, 2016). Cucumbers are used to cure sunburns and wrinkles as well as can be utilized as moisturizer by inhibiting tyrosinase (Murad and Nyc, 2016), as it contains potassium in high amounts (50-80 mg/100g), cucumber can also be useful for the patients of both high and low blood pressures (Kashif et al., 2008). ...
Preprint
Experiments were conducted to determine the resistance level of different cultivars and study the efficacy of various synthetic insecticides against red pumpkin beetle ( Aulocohphora foveicollis ) at the New Developmental Malakandir Farm, the University of Agriculture Peshawar, during 2018. In the first experimental trial, data were collected on the mean population density of red pumpkin beetle on three cultivars (Desi, Super Green and Madam-560) of cucumber crop. While in the second experiment, three insecticides (Carbaryl, Cypermethrin, Malathion) and an Untreated/Control were used to study the effect of these insecticides on Desi (susceptible) and Madam 560 (resistant) cultivars regarding red pumpkin beetle on cucumber cultivar. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in this experiment. The data on the relevant parameters were recorded at weekly intervals for eleven (1 st experiment) and four weeks (2 nd experiment) i.e. till termination of the experiments. During first experiment, it was observed that significantly lowest population density of red pumpkin beetle (0.82) per plant and highest yield (8981.3 kg ha ⁻¹ ) was observed from Madam 560, while significantly highest mean population density of red pumpkin beetle (4.06) per plant and lowest yield (7313.7 kg ha ⁻¹ ) was obtained from Desi cultivar. Significantly maximum mean number of red pumpkin beetle plant ⁻¹ was recorded in the seventh week (29 May) from Desi, Super Green and Madam 560 cultivars with 6.41, 4.50 and 1.62 beetle plant ⁻¹ , respectively. During the cropping season, mean population density of red pumpkin beetle plant ⁻¹ reached its peak in the seventh week (29 May). After 7 th week, a gradual decline was occurred in the mean population density of red pumpkin beetle plant ⁻¹ . In second experiment, lowest mean population density of red pumpkin beetle adults plant ⁻¹ (0.12), area of consumption (3.12 mm ² ), percentage weight loss (1.60 %) and highest yield (21555 kg ha ⁻¹ ) was recorded from Madam 560 treated with Carbaryl, while highest mean population density of red pumpkin beetle adult plant ⁻¹ (7.09), area of consumption (36.11 mm ² ), percentage weight loss (17.27%) and lowest yield (7247 kg ha ⁻¹ ) was recorded from untreated Desi cultivar. It was followed by untreated Madam 560 cultivar where 5.40, 25.92 mm ² , 13.20% and 8766 kg ha ⁻¹ . Madam 560 is significantly better cultivar than Super Green and Desi, as this cultivar results in lowest population density of red pumpkin beetle and highest yield of cucumber fruit. Carbaryl is significantly better as compared to Malathion and Cypermethrin because it reduces the population of red pumpkin beetle.
... The inclusion of aloe vera gel in commercial hand sanitizers aims to improve fibroblast activity leading to collagen synthesis while also conferring some protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation (Surjushe et al. 2008;Heggers et al. 1996;Chithra et al. 1998). On the other hand, cucumber is believed to moisturize the skin, inhibit melanin synthesis, and to have anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, anti-wrinkling, and skin-brightening effects (Akhtar et al. 2011;Murad and Nyc 2012;Hooda 2015). Carrot is the ideal vitaminized food and several of its constituents such as ascorbic acid and beta-carotene, in addition to phenolic compounds, can help in maintaining the integrity of the skin and connective tissues (Sharma et al. 2012). ...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to achieve an in vitro quantification of the effects of composition and formulation factors on the killing rates of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The killing rates of 85% ethyl alcohol (ET) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were studied under different conditions such as pH, electrolyte concentration, or inclusion of herbal extracts (cucumber, carrot, and aloe vera), a quaternary ammonium compound, or thickener over different time intervals. Changes in the activities were retested after 3 months as an indication of stability. From two-way ANOVA, both the time of exposure and the sanitizer type affected the activity against Staphylococcus aureus ( P = 0.001 for both alcohols), whereas for Escherichia coli , time of exposure was significant ( P = 0.027), while sanitizer type was less significant ( P = 0.063) . Extreme pHs, the presence of ions, and the inclusion of additives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC), plant extracts, or carbomer impacted the 3-month activity of the samples differently. Important differences existing in the activities of ET and IPA, as a function of formulation factors or use conditions have been quantified using in vitro methods. Formulations should best be tailored for particular purposes and the all-purpose hand sanitizer may not exist. Graphic Abstract
... [Bmim][Cl] was selected as one of the most commercially widespread ionic liquids from the imidazolium class, while [Dmim][Cl] was chosen as a typical representative of surface-active ionic liquid with pronounced lipophilicity. Tomato and cucumber were chosen for the study due to their short vegetation, fast growth and high biomass production, but also because both vegetables are grown worldwide and are important for the food processing industry (Murad and Nyc, 2016). Up to the available knowledge, there are no studies concerning the effect of [Bmim][Cl] and [Dmim][Cl] on the growth and chemical composition of tomatoes at harvest. ...
Article
Imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) have unique and tunable features with high potential in industrial use. However, the utilization of the ILs in industrial processes has recently arisen the question of their disposal and the effect on the environment. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effect of two commercial imidazolium-based ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl]) and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Dmim][Cl]) on the growth and chemical composition of widely grown vegetables - tomato and cucumber. Different concentrations (10, 100 or 1000 mg L⁻¹) of [Bmim][Cl] and [Dmim][Cl] were applied to the soil on which tomato was cultivated. After the harvest of tomato fruits, the same soil was used to grow and analyze the growth and chemical composition of cucumber. ILs significantly reduced shoot biomass and yield of tomato and significantly changed concentrations of N, K, Ca, Fe and Mn in the leaves, whereas concentrations of P, Cu and Zn were at the level of respected controls. The number of fruits of cucumber, grown on the soil previously treated with ILs, was significantly reduced along with yield, and mineral composition of leaves was significantly altered, with the exception to Cu. [Dmim][Cl] in general affected both tomato and cucumber more than [Bmim][Cl]. The application of IL with a longer alkyl substituent ([Dmim][Cl]) increased the temperature inside the tomato canopy and accelerated the senescence of plants.
... Chitwan district was 457 ha and 6626.5 metric tonnes, respectively with the productivity of 14.5 mt ha -1 in 2015/16 [2]. Cucumber is high in water and low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium, which have been used for their anti-inflammatory benefits on skin, soothing properties for digestion and other therapeutic uses [3]. ...
Article
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Cucurbit fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett) is a pest of cucurbits, such as summer squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and bittergourd (Momordica charantia L.). Yield as well as quality of crop is significantly reduced by B. cucurbitae damage in cucurbit fields. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of net house and mulching on the incidence of B. cucurbitae on cucumber production from June to August 2017 in Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with four replications and five treatments such as i) untreated (no plastic mulch+ no net house + no insecticide spray), ii) black plastic mulch + no net + deltamethrin 1% EC + triazophos 35% EC at a rate of 2 ml/liter spray, iii) reflective plastic mulch only, iv) black plastic mulch only, and v) net house + black mulch + no insecticide spray. The net house with black mulching treatment totally restricted the adult cucurbit fruit fly to enter in the cucumber field. The lowest cucurbit fruit fly population was recorded in deltamethrin 1% EC+ trizophos 35% EC at a rate of 2 ml/liter treated plot along with black mulch, however there was no significant effect either of black or reflective plastic mulch only. The highest fruit fly damage (15.50%), ovary damage (8.44 %), post-set damage (7.86 %), harvest damage (14.35%) were recorded in untreated plot. The highest marketable yield was recorded inside the net house with black plastic mulch (59.08 mt ha⁻¹) followed by reflective plastic mulch (42.95 mt ha⁻¹) and the lowest in untreated plot (28.35 mt ha⁻¹). Fruit fly damage was not recorded in net house with black mulch (0.00 %) followed by black mulch with deltamethrin + triazophos plot (3.46%). Economic analysis showed the benefit cost ratio of 1.43 in net house. The cost of net house construction is expensive, however higher yield and quality production without use of insecticides can be achieved in net house production system, which in the long run is beneficial to the farmers and the environment.
... Karenanya, mentimun banyak dimanfaatkan dalam bidang kuliner, medis, maupun kosmetik (Murad, 2016). Sementara itu, produksi mentimun di Indonesia terus mengalami penurunan seiring dengan berjalannya waktu dengan menyempitnya lahan pertanian (Anonim, 2017). ...
Article
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Penelitian tanggapan pertumbuhan dan hasil mentimun (Cucumis sativus L.) terhadap umur pangkas dan pemberian mulsa di lahan pasir pantai ini dilaksanakan di lahan pasir pantai Samas, tepatnya di Patihan, Gadingsari, Sanden, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta yang terletak pada ketinggian 2 hingga 10 m di atas permukaan laut, sebagian wilayahnya sendiri berbatasan langsung dengan pesisir selama bulan Mei hingga Juli 2019. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh umur pangkas dan pemberian mulsa terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil mentimun. Rancangan yang digunakan adalah rancangan petak terbagi faktorial 2x4 dengan 3 blok sebagai ulangan. Faktor utama adalah pemulsaan, yaitu dimulsa dan tidak dimulsa, dengan anak faktor berupa umur pangkas pucuk yaitu tanpa dipangkas, dipangkas 14 hst, dipangkas 21 hst, dan dipangkas 28 hst. Data yang didapat kemudian diolah dengan anova, kemudian perbedaannya diuji lanjut dengan Tukey pada signfikansi 5%. Hasil penelitian didapatkan bahwa tidak ada interaksi antara pengaruh pemulsaan dan umur pangkas pucuk. Perlakuan pemulsaan memberikan nilai yang lebih tinggi pada parameter volume akar dan jumlah daun yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan tanaman yang tidak diberi perlakuan pemulsaan. Perlakuan umur pangkas hanya memberikan pengaruh terhadap panjang tanaman yang lebih pendek pada perlakuan umur pangkas 21 dan 28 hst. Dengan demikian, petani dapat melakukan pemangkasan pada umur 28 hst untuk mendapatkan tanaman mentimun yang lebih pendek.
... The fruit is commonly harvested while still green and are used as raw, cooked or pickled ( (Reshma & Hossain, 2011;Shah et al., 2015). Fresh cucumber is a good source of water, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, lipid, iron, vitamin, fibre and antioxidants (Rashid, 1999;Murad & Nyc, 2016). ...
Article
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Studies on insects associated with cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) in Bamunka-ndop (North-West, Cameroon) under field conditions were conducted in 2017 and 2018 from April to July. The insect species diversity, the relative abundance, the frequency of visits and guilds were recorded on the plant from 7 am to 6 pm in a 2 hours time slots. Insects were found on the stem, leaves and flowers of Cucumber. There were 10 insect species belonging to 4 Orders. Out of these, four species belonged to Hymenoptera (54.15%), whereas the Coleoptera (33.18%), the Orthoptera (7.83%) and the Diptera (4.84%) owned two species each. Formica sp. being the most represented insect (24.42%) followed by A. mellifera (21.66%). Nectarivorous, pollinivorous, stems and leaves feeders and flowers and leaves feeders were found on the crop. The peak of activities of all the insect species was situated between 10 am and 12pm even though the temperature and the relative humidity of the study site appear not to affect their activities on the plant. These studies therefore indicated that the insects associated to cucumber should be exploited to work on their activities on cucumber and enhancing yield and quality of the fruits.
... This clearly indicates that most Liberians do not receive adequate and nourishing nutrition and the recommended calories intake in their daily diet. A typical Liberian meal consists of rice, dumboy, fufu or GB with palm butter, palava sauce, meat stew, vegetable gravies, bean or kitteley or bitter ball torborgee, red oil or fried potato greens, cabbage soup, eddo soup, cassava leave soup, peanut soup, fish or meat pepper soup, pumpkin soup, fever leave soup, okra soup, etc [19,20]. And it is evident that most Liberians eat their best meals on July 26 (Liberia's Independence Day Celebration), December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year Day) or by extension during traditional weddings or marriage ceremonies or graduation events or poro and sande society bush graduation parties [13]. ...
... The consumption of cucumbers may reduce the risk of aging and skin discoloration, cancerous and cardiovascular diseases and inflammations, and supportthe bone strength. Additionally, cucumbers can be used to treat sunburns and wrinkles and used as a skin brightener and moisturizer (Murad and Nyc, 2016). Usually, consumer judges the cucumber quality on the basis of freshness and appearance at the purchase time. ...
... Different types of vegetable and fruit crops, which are related to melons, such as watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew are a relatively low-calorie food at just about 15 calories per cup and are about 95% water. It contains high levels of lignans, vitamin K cucurbitacins and their derivatives, flavonoids, antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamin C, and B vitamins, among other trace elements and minerals [2] [3]. Cucumber has an important role in cooling of skin. ...
Article
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The present investigation was designed to isolate, characterization of pathogenic bacteria from leaf spot disease of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and evaluation of its biological control management. Yellow pigment Xanthomonas like bacterial colonies were observed on LB agar medium after streaking and incubation at 37ºC for16 hours. Isolated bacteria were identified as Xanthomonas campestris on the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical tests. The isolated bacterium was gram negative rod shaped and yellow in color. It showed positive result for some biochemical test like Catalase test, MacConkey test, Potassium Hydroxide test while negative result to Urease test and Kovac's oxidase test. In Triple Sugar Iron agar test and Kligler Iron Agar test the isolated bacteria fermented carbohydrates. SIM test confirms the motility of the bacteria with no indole formation and no H2S gas production. The antibiotic and antibacterial sensitivity was determined by disc diffusion method. The antibiotic Cefotaxime revealed highest 43 mm diameter of zone of inhibition against the isolated bacteria. The extract of Allium sativum showed highest 17mm diameter of zone of inhibition against isolated bacteria. This investigation should be helpful for future detection of the pathogenic bacteria and its biological control.
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NCREASING agricultural revenues and productivity is crucial to getting food and reducing poverty. At the same time, rising air temperatures because of climate changes considered real safety threatens agrarian production. Hence, to cope with these challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, it is vital to modify current agricultural practices. In this context, the current study was conducted to investigate the possibility of improving cucumber productivity under heat-stress conditions during the late summer seasons. The treatments included different protected cultivation techniques of cucumber, i.e., using soil mulch with a white plastic cover, an anti-stressor spray of aluminum silicate, shaded tunnel by net cover, misting under shaded tunnel by net cover, top white plastic sheet, misting without cover. The soils of all studied protected treatments were covered by white plastic mulch to decrease soil temperature and evaporation. All protected cultivation techniques were compared with the common open-field cultivation without any protection (control). The results revealed that all modifications of the low tunnels ameliorated heat stress and reflected better cucumber growth and fruit yield compared to open-field cultivation. The tunnel with mist under the net cover produced the highest plant growth, leaf area, and chlorophyll content. The favorable effect of the treatments on flowering was related to the increase in number of female flowers not the number of male ones. Rather than increasing fruit productivity, the modified tunnels also enhanced fruit quality (weight, size, firmness and TSS %).
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Full-text available
NCREASING agricultural revenues and productivity is crucial to getting food and reducing poverty. At the same time, rising air temperatures because of climate changes considered real safety threatens agrarian production. Hence, to cope with these challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, it is vital to modify current agricultural practices. In this context, the current study was conducted to investigate the possibility of improving cucumber productivity under heat-stress conditions during the late summer seasons. The treatments included different protected cultivation techniques of cucumber, i.e., using soil mulch with a white plastic cover, an anti-stressor spray of aluminum silicate, shaded tunnel by net cover, misting under shaded tunnel by net cover, top white plastic sheet, misting without cover. The soils of all studied protected treatments were covered by white plastic mulch to decrease soil temperature and evaporation. All protected cultivation techniques were compared with the common open-field cultivation without any protection (control). The results revealed that all modifications of the low tunnels ameliorated heat stress and reflected better cucumber growth and fruit yield compared to open-field cultivation. The tunnel with mist under the net cover produced the highest plant growth, leaf area, and chlorophyll content. The favorable effect of the treatments on flowering was related to the increase in number of female flowers not the number of male ones. Rather than increasing fruit productivity, the modified tunnels also enhanced fruit quality (weight, size, firmness and TSS %).
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Background. Cucumber is one of the natural ingredients that has been widely used traditionally to maintain facial skin health. Cucumber is rich in antioxidants which have the potential to suppress the inflammatory process that arises due to hormonal imbalances in melasma sufferers due to the use of injectable contraception. This study aimed to determine the effect of using a cucumber mask on the incidence of melasma in acceptors injection contraception users at the independent midwife practice in Bungursari, Purwakarta, Indonesia. Methods. This study was an experimental study in which a total of 30 research subjects participated in this study. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 25 software in a bivariate manner to determine the effect of using cucumber masks on melasma. Results. After using the cucumber mask on the first day, there was an improvement in melasma in the intervention group compared to before using the cucumber mask, p=0.02 (p<0.05). Likewise, after using the cucumber mask on the second to the seventh day, there was an improvement in melasma in the intervention group compared to before using the cucumber mask, p <0.05. Conclusion. There is an effect of using a cucumber mask on melasma in acceptors of injection contraception users at the independent midwife practice in Bungursari, Purwakarta, Indonesia.
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Chapter
People from worldwide have been using plant-based substances (Natural Products) to enhance the appearance since the existence of mankind. In the ancient Egypt, around 3000 BC, there is evidence of using cosmetics, and their usages have been a necessary part in our everyday life in all cultures. Initially, natural products have been used for beauty products; occasionally augment with paints and dyes. Natural products have approached back with present trend cosmetic products which are mainly derived from plant sources. Since from longer time, plant products (Natural Products) are source of food and medicines. A broad range of natural products is used in cosmetics preparations, skin care such as treatment of dryness, treatment of eczema and acne, as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, hair care products such as hair growth imputes, hair color, scalp complaints like dandruff, and skin protection, and also toiletry preparations. Essential oils are major source of plants; essential oils have been used in preparation of perfumes, hair care substances, emollient of the skin. For example, natural products have been used in cosmetic industry avoiding side effects with traditional preparations for herbal beauty such as Emblica officinalis (Amla), Acacica concinna (Shikakai), and Callicarpa macrophylla (Priyangu) have been used strongly in skin care and hair care. Moreover, Indian women are still using natural products such as Pterocarpus santalinus L. and Curcuma longa (skin care), Lawsonia inermis L. (hair color), and natural oils such as coconut, olive, shea butter, jojoba, and essential oils in perfumes for their bodies. The present book chapter represents the importance of natural products in cosmetics.
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In the past, dermatologists treated aging locally, without addressing much beyond the dermal layer or even at the cellular level. However, some systemic protocols have been illuminated in literature to significantly slow certain aging responses to external, internal, and emotional stressors. Accordingly, there are some data to justify changes to diet, stress level, and sleep habits, but researchers have yet to find a single theory that can collect the data and provide one systematic equation that produces universally predictable results locally and systemically, until now. This article will discuss the theories and scientific discoveries on aging, including current thoughts on therapeutic modalities, to offer a greater understanding of where future reseach on aging will be heading.
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SynopsisObjectives To exploit the microbial ecology of bacterial metabolite production and, specifically, to evaluate the potential use of the pigments prodigiosin and violacein as additives to commercial sunscreens for protection of human skin. And to determine antioxidant- and antimicrobial activities (against pathogenic bacteria) for prodigiosin and violacein.Methods Prodigiosin and violacein were used to supplement extracts of Aloe vera leaf and Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit which have photo-protective activity, and commercial sunscreen preparations. For each, sunscreen protection factors (SPFs) were determined spectrophotometrically. Assays were carried out using 96-well plates to quantify growth-inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.ResultsFor the plant extracts, SPFs were increased by an order of magnitude (i.e. up to ~3.5) and those for the commercial sunscreens increased by 10-22% (for 4% w/w violacein) and 20-65% (for 4% w/w prodigiosin). The antioxidant activities of prodigiosin and violacein were approximately 30 and 20% those of ascorbic acid (a well-characterized, potent antioxidant). Violacein inhibited S. aureus (IC50 6.99±0.146 μM) but not E. coli, whereas prodigiosin was effective against both bacteria (IC50 values were 0.68±0.06 μM and 0.53±0.03 μM, respectively).Conclusion The bacterial pigments prodigiosin and violacein have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and were able to increase the SPF of commercial sunscreens as well as the extracts of the two plant species tested and so have potential value as ingredients for a new product-range of (and represent a new paradigm for) sunscreens that utilise substances of biological origin. We discussed the biotechnological potential of these bacterial metabolites for use in commercial sunscreens, and the need for studies of mammalian cells to determine safety.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family like melon, squash and pumpkins. It is a popular vegetable crop used in Indian traditional medicine since ancient times. This vegetable is very high in water content and very low in calories. It has potential antidiabetic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activity. Cucumber has a cleansing action within the body by removing accumulated pockets of old waste materials and chemical toxins. Fresh fruit juice is used for nourishing the skin. It gives soothing effect against skin irritations and reduces swelling. Cucumber also has the power to relax and alleviate the sunburn's pain. The fruit is refrigerant, haemostatic, tonic and useful in hyperdipsia, thermoplegia etc. The seeds have also cooling effect on the body and they are used to prevent constipation. Several bioactive compounds have been isolated from cucumber including cucurbitacins, cucumegastigmanes I and II, cucumerin A and B, vitexin, orientin, isoscoparin 2''-O-(6'''-(E)-p-coumaroyl) glucoside, apigenin 7-O-(6''-O-p-coumaroylglucoside) etc. Despite huge exploration of cucumber in agricultural field, comparatively very few studies have been published about its chemical profile and its therapeutic potential. This article reviews the therapeutic application, pharmacological and phytochemical profile of different parts of C. sativus. In this review we have explored the current phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge available with this well known plant and several promising aspects for research on cucumber.
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Experimental data show that cell membranes become more rigid during aging. If this involves a decrease of resting potassium permeability, the intracellular potassium concentration will increase. Such an increase is beneficial for the maintenance of cell excitability, however, it represents a drawback for the nuclear functions, since the intracellular ionic strength may reach values even above 400 mEq kg−1 cell water, where the chromatin becomes more condensed and the activity of DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase as well as other enzymes probably decreases. This “membrane hypothesis” of aging may explain the decreased protein synthetic activity of old cells, especially of postmitotic ones.X-ray microanalysis has revealed that potassium concentrations significantly increase in the nucleus and cytoplasm of brain and liver cells of old rats. The chromatin of old nerve cells is more condensed than that of the young ones, the rates of nucleolar and nucleoplasmic RNA-synthesis are significantly lower in the old brain cells, and also the number of perichromatin granules decreases with age.A decrease of intracellular potassium content, in brain cells of old rats can be brought about by phytohemagglutinin-P and centrophenoxine. This is accompanied by a sort of rejuvenation: the chromatin becomes decondensed, the rates of nucleolar and nucleoplasmic RNA-synthesis increase together with the number of perichromatin granules, the medium life-span and the learning capacity of the animals increase. These experimental results support the “membrane hypothesis” of aging.
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As a reduction of water spaces is expected in the elderly because of fat-free mass loss, disease is often associated with increased hydration. The present study compared water spaces and cellular hydration in adults, healthy and diseased aged patients. An open study was conducted in 6 geriatric wards and a nutrition laboratory involving 85 aged diseased persons, 68 healthy elderly adults, and 35 adults. Total body water (TBW, H(2)(18)O dilution), extracellular water (ECW, Bromide dilution), and fat-free mass (FFM, body density and Siri's equation) were measured directly whereas intracellular water (ICW = TBW - ECW) and body cell mass (FFM - ECW) were obtained by calculations. FFM, TBW, and ICW were higher in adults than in the 2 other groups and in the elderly than in aged patients. ECW was higher in aged patients than in healthy elderly participants. The proportion of TBW made of ECW or ICW was the same in adults and in healthy elderly persons. A higher proportion of TBW was composed of ECW, and a lower proportion of TBW was composed of ICW, in diseased patients compared with the 2 other groups. The proportion of ICW in body cell mass was also lower in diseased patients. Diseased elderly persons display reduced ICW and expanded ECW. A cellular dehydration is suggested.
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Alterations in collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans contribute to cutaneous changes seen in aging skin. A randomized, controlled, single-blind study was conducted with 53 female volunteers who were supplied with an oral supplement containing glucosamine, amino acids, minerals, and various antioxidant compounds. Hydration properties of the skin as well as textural analysis of the women's fine lines and wrinkles were assessed following 5 weeks intake of the oral supplement and results were compared with those of a control group of 12 individuals who did not take the supplement. There was a statistically significant reduction (34%) in the number of visible wrinkles as measured by the silflo replicas (P < 0.01) and a reduction (34%) in the number of fine lines (P < 0.06) in the group of women who took the supplement. No significant changes in epidermal hydration were observed in either the control or study groups. The use of an oral supplement containing glucosamine, minerals, and various antioxidant compounds can potentially improve the appearance of visible wrinkles and fine lines. It does not, however, affect epidermal hydration.
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Intakes of specific nutrients and food groups have been shown previously to be related to ovarian cancer risk, but no studies, to our knowledge, have emphasized the effect of phytochemical intakes on this cancer. We conducted a case-control study of diet and ovarian cancer in western New York involving 124 primary, histologically confirmed ovarian cancer cases and 696 population-based controls, frequency matched to cases on age and county of residence. Diet was assessed with a detailed food-frequency questionnaire. Nutrient and phytochemical intakes were calculated from published food composition data. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI for risk of ovarian cancer with each nutrient, phytochemical and food group were estimated with unconditional logistic regression adjusting for age, education, total months menstruating, difficulty becoming pregnant, oral contraceptive use, menopausal status and energy intake. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of intake, reduced risks were observed for women in the highest quintile of intake of dietary fiber (OR 0.43, 95% CI, 0.20-0.94), total carotenoids (OR 0.33, 95% CI, 0.16-0.68), stigmasterol (OR 0.42, 95% CI, 0.20-0.87), total lignans (OR 0.43, 95% CI, 0.21-0.85), vegetables (OR 0.47, 95% CI, 0.23-0.97) and poultry (OR 0.45, 95% CI, 0.22-0.92). These results support a protective effect on ovarian cancer of phytoestrogen intakes, and our results support the hypothesis that a plant-based diet may be important in reducing risks of hormone-related neoplasms.
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Recent in vitro, animal, and epidemiological studies suggest that dietary lignans may be chemopreventive, potentially through anti-estrogenic, anti-angiogenic, pro- apoptotic, and anti-oxidant mechanisms. In this article, we review lignan food sources and metabolism, proposed anti-carcinogenic mechanisms, and the evidence for a role of lignans in breast, colon, and prostate cancer prevention from animal and epidemiologic literature. Although a number of in vitro and animal studies support a role for lignan-rich foods and purified lignans in the modulation of cancer events of the breast, prostate, and colon, epidemiological studies, sparse and often retrospective in nature, offer inconsistent findings. The most support for a role of lignans in cancer is observed for premenopausal breast cancer. Additional epidemiological studies that use a prospective design and well-developed food databases and questionnaires are needed to adequately evaluate the role of lignans in cancer prevention.
Article
Application of vitamin K (vitK) to the skin has been used for suppression of pigmentation and resolution of bruising. However, there is no report concerning the extent of its penetration in the skin. In this study, we investigated the in vitro skin penetration and transdermal delivery of vitK, and whether these parameters may be enhanced by lipid-based drug delivery systems. The lipid formulation used in this study contains monoolein (MO), which is structured as a liquid crystalline phase, named hexagonal phase. The skin penetration of vitK was assessed in vitro using porcine ear skin mounted in a Franz diffusion cell. VitK (2.5%, w/w) was incorporated in either of three formulations: liquid vaseline, MO-based hexagonal phase gel (MO-vitK-water at 77.5/2.5/20, w/w/w) and MO-based nanodispersion of hexagonal phase (MO-vitK-poloxamer-water at 15/2.5/0.9/81.6, w/w/w/w). When vaseline was used, vitK was delivered mainly to the stratum corneum (SC): 9.50+/-0.97 microg/cm(2) of vitK was delivered to the SC at 12 h post-application, whereas 4.90 +/- 1.28 microg/cm(2) of vitK was delivered to the epidermis (E)+dermis (D) at the same time point. The hexagonal phase gel and the nanodispersion delivered approximately 2 times more vitK to the SC and 2.0-3.7 times more vitK to the [E+D] than the vaseline solution. The nanodispersion (but not the gel) also increased the transdermal delivery of vitK at 9 h ( approximately 3-fold increase). These results demonstrate that the topical delivery of vitK incorporated in a lipophilic vehicle is small, but it may be enhanced by MO-based systems, which might be useful to increase the effectiveness of topical vitK therapy.
Article
UV radiation (UVR) is a complete carcinogen that elicits a constellation of pathological events, including direct DNA damage, generation of reactive oxidants that peroxidize lipids and damage other cellular components, initiation of inflammation, and suppression of the immune response. Recent dramatic increases in the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers are largely attributable to higher exposure of an aging population to UVR. Therefore, the development of cellular strategies for intrinsic protection of the skin against the deleterious effects of UVR is imperative. Here we show that erythema resulting from UVR is a comprehensive and noninvasive biomarker for assessing UVR damage and can be precisely and easily quantified in human skin. Topical application of sulforaphane-rich extracts of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts up-regulated phase 2 enzymes in the mouse and human skin, protected against UVR-induced inflammation and edema in mice, and reduced susceptibility to erythema arising from narrow-band 311-nm UVR in humans. In six human subjects (three males and three females, 28–53 years of age), the mean reduction in erythema across six doses of UVR (300–800 mJ/cm² in 100 mJ/cm² increments) was 37.7% (range 8.37–78.1%; P = 0.025). This protection against a carcinogen in humans is catalytic and long lasting. • erythema • nicotinamide:quinone oxidoreductase 1 • skin tumor • chemoprotection
Modern Herb. Tigers Books International London
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Conquering cultural stress: the ultimate guide to anti-aging and happiness
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Murad, H. Conquering cultural stress: the ultimate guide to anti-aging and happiness. Wisdom Waters Press: Jan 7, 2015.