Genus Cucumis: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxicology
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摘要:
黄瓜属（葫芦科）植物广泛分布于温带、热带和亚热带地区。该属的物种在亚洲和非洲的传统民族医药实践中有着悠久的历史，用于治疗多种疾病，包括胃肠道、代谢、泌尿生殖、肝脏、皮肤、心血管、呼吸、炎症和感染性疾病。尽管有着广泛的传统用途，但黄瓜属的全部治疗潜力仍未被充分挖掘。 本综述全面探讨了黄瓜属植物的传统民族医药应用、植物化学成分、药理活性、临床证据及毒理学特征。通过对国际公认的科学数据库和权威资源库（包括Web of Science、Scopus、PubMed、ScienceDirect和Google Scholar）进行系统检索，共发现超过428种生物活性化合物，隶属于不同的植物化学类别。这些类别包括甾体类、三萜类（主要为葫芦素）、黄酮类（特别是C-糖苷黄酮和O-糖苷黄酮）、香豆素类、其他酚类化合物以及其他次生代谢产物。体外、体内及有限的临床研究证实，这些化合物共同表现出多方面的生物活性，涵盖抗炎、抗高血压、抗糖尿病、抗癌、器官保护、抗菌和抗病毒等作用。然而，支撑这些药理效应的分子机制仍未得到充分阐明。 通过将传统民族医药知识与现代研究方法相结合，本综述强调了加深对黄瓜属及其生物活性成分科学认知的必要性。未来的研究应侧重于全面的植物化学分析、机制阐明、临床评价以及严格的毒理学评估，以确保各种黄瓜属物种在现代草药医学中的安全有效应用。
Abstract:
The genus Cucumis L. (Cucurbitaceae), flourishes across temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions. Species within the genus have a long-standing history in traditional ethnomedicinal practices throughout Asia and Africa, addressing a wide spectrum of ailments, including gastrointestinal, metabolic, urogenital, hepatic, dermatological, cardiovascular, respiratory, inflammatory, and infectious disorders. Despite this extensive traditional use, the full therapeutic potential of Cucumis remains underexplored. This review comprehensively explores the traditional ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activities, clinical evidence, and toxicological profiles of Cucumis species. A systematic survey of internationally recognized scientific databases and authoritative repositories, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, and revealed over 428 bioactive compounds spanning through diverse phytochemical classes. These classes include steroids, triterpenoids (predominantly cucurbitacins), flavonoids (particularly C,O-glycosylflavones), coumarins, other phenolics, and additional secondary metabolites. Collectively, these compounds demonstrate multifaceted bioactivities, encompassing anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, organ-protective, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, as validated through in vitro, in vivo, and limited clinical studies. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms underpinning these pharmacological effects remain inadequately elucidated. By integrating traditional ethnomedicinal knowledge with contemporary research approaches, this review highlights the necessity of advancing scientific insight into the genus Cucumis and its bioactive constituents. Future research should focus on comprehensive phytochemical profiling, mechanistic elucidation, clinical evaluations, and rigorous toxicological assessments to ensure the safe and effective application of various Cucumis species in modern herbal medicine.
Hesham M. El-Sayed a, Engy A. Mahrous b, Dalia M. Rasheed a, Essam Abdel-Sattar b. Genus Cucumis: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and toxicology[J]. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHM),2026,18(2):343-376
