Pharmacological and Phytochemical Updates on Citrullus colocynthis & Citrullus lanata

Abstract

Citrullus species has been widely used in the preparations of folk medicine for centuries. Citrullus species has the traditional use in remedy for various diseases like cancer, endothelioma, leukemia, tumours of the liver, spleen etc. A decoction of the whole plant is made with juices used to help indurations of the liver. Roots may also be used as a purgative and for jaundice, urinary diseases, rheumatism and for snake poison. The leaves are diuretic and used in the treatment of jaundice and asthma. This plant is available in wild in the sandy lands of North West Punjab, Rajasthan, and southern coastal areas of India. Citrullus colocynthis & Citrullus lanata commonly known as the colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber and kaurtumba. Evaluation of Citrullus species extracts as a lipoxygenase inhibitor may be useful in cancer treatment. Evaluation of the fruit extract as a Inhibitor of hyaluronidase activity can be useful in the treatment of allergic reaction, snake bite poisoning, dengue and oedema. The methanolic fruit extract of Citrullus species was used to evaluate free radical scavenging effect. The highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability of the Citrullus fruit extract was observed at 2500 microgmL-1 concentration.Copyright © 2020 iGlobal Research and Publishing Foundation. All rights reserved.