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Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Cucumis callosus: a Novel Nutritional Powerhouse for the Management of Non-communicable Diseases

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Abstract

Cucumis callosus (Kachri) is an under-exploited fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family, distributed majorly in the arid regions of India in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The fruit is traditionally used by the native people at a small scale by home-level processing. It is a perennial herb that has been shown to possess therapeutic potential in certain disorders. In several studies, the antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidaemic, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, anti-microbial, and cardioprotective properties of Kachri have been reported. The fruit has a good nutritional value in terms of high percentages of protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, phenols, and various phytochemicals. Also, gamma radiation treatment has been used on this crop to reduce total bacterial counts (TBC), ensuring safety from pathogens during the storage period of the fruit and its products. These facts lay down a foundation for the development of functional food formulations and nutraceuticals of medicinal value from this functionally rich crop. Processing of traditionally valuable arid region foods into functional foods and products can potentially increase the livelihood and nutritional security of people globally. Therefore, this review focuses on the therapeutic and pharmacological potentials of the Kachri fruit in the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) namely, diabetes, cancer, and hyperlipidemia.

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Abbreviations

5-FU:

5-Fluorouracil

CuB:

Cucurbitacin B

CYP450:

Cytochrome P450

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DPPH:

α-Diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl

EAC:

Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma

GHP:

Good harvesting practices

GMP:

Good manufacturing practices

HDLC:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

HMG- CoA:

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

IDDM:

Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

JAK:

Janus kinase

LDLC:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LMICS:

Low- and middle-income countries

MECC:

Methanolic extract of Cucumis callosus

MFCC:

Methanolic fruit extract of C. callosus

MPCC:

Methanolic pericarp extract of C. callosus

MSCC:

Methanolic seed extract of C. callosus

NCDs:

Non communicable diseases

NIDDM:

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

NUS:

Neglected and Underutilized Species

PGC-1α:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α

SDG:

Sustainable Development Goals

STAT:

Signal transducers and activators of transcription

STZ:

Streptozotocin

TBC:

Total bacterial counts

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

UN:

United Nations

UNDP:

United Nations development programme

UNICEF:

United Nations children's emergency fund

WHO:

World health organization

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition Biology, School of Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana, India, 123031

    Deepika, Anita Kumari &  Sarita

  2. Department of Food Technology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India, 110075

    Priyanka Prajapati & Meenakshi Garg

  3. Department of Microbiology, School of Interdisciplinary and Applied Sciences, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, 123031, Haryana, India

    Sandeep Kumar & Surender Singh

  4. Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    Rotimi E. Aluko

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Contributions

A. K. and D. proposed the idea for the literat ure review and performed the literature search. D., P.P, S. and S.K. performed the literature search and drafted the manuscript. D. and P.P. wrote the main manuscript text. A.K., RE. A., M.G. and S.S critically revised and reviewed the manuscript.

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Deepika, Kumari, A., Prajapati, P. et al. Pharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Cucumis callosus: a Novel Nutritional Powerhouse for the Management of Non-communicable Diseases. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 78, 630–642 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-023-01098-y

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