Citrullus sp. - Review of Options for Use
Some watermelon accessions in the USDA-ARS germplasm collection show a particular phenotype usually described by breeders as Egusi seed type. These accessions have been misclassified on occasion. Typically, Colocynthis citrullus [=Citrullus lanatus] has been confused with Citrullus colocynthis and as a result, the Egusi watermelon has been sometimes mistakenly considered a common name for colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis).
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus [=Colocynthis citrullus L.] is the cultivated watermelon, and can have Egusi phenotype. On the other hand, Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. is a different Citrullus species (commonly called colocynth) It should not be referred to as egusi melon. Colocynth grows wild in warm and arid areas of Africa and Asia.
The Egusi watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) is commonly known in Nigeria and the Congo as wild watermelon, Egusi melon, or Ibara. Egusi watermelon is widely cultivated in Nigeria, where the protein- and carbohydrate-rich seeds are used as a regular part of the diet. The fruit are not edible because of their bitter, hard, white flesh.
Note : Citrullus colocynthis fruit (Bitter Apple) is sometimes jokingly referred to as 'Camel Eggs'
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- Abstract,Int. J. Curr. Res. Biosci. Plant Biol. 2015 The recent trend of moving away from synthetic or chemical-based treatments, towards more nature-based remedies has not at all been condemned, with efficacy, safety, relative availability and affordability taking sides with the later. The seed...
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- Naturally occurring,colocynthis prepared from the dried pulp of the fruit ofCitrullus colocynthis, a Mediterranean and African herbaceous vine related to the watermelon. Its medicinal benefit as a laxative (cathartic, purgative) was originally reported in the 19thCenturyFelter and Lloyd (1898)....
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- Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad, commonly known as Colocynth, a member of Cucurbitaceae is native to Mediterranean region and Asia. It is a wild, perennial, herbaceous, non-tough, harsh, angular vine with lobular tendrils, alternate leaves and small yellow monoecious flowers. Recently, various...
- Li QY, Munawar M, Saeed M, Shen JQ, Khan MS, Noreen S, Alagawany M, Naveed M, Madni A, Li CX.Citrullus colocynthis(L.) Schrad (Bitter Apple Fruit): Promising Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Effects, Aspects, and Potential Applications. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 25;12:791049. doi:...
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