Cantaloupe ( Cucumis melo ssp. melo )

Taxonomic classification

Description

The Genus Cucumis includes approximately forty species, which are annual or perennial herbs and are native to Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Eastern and South-Eastern India. The primary gene centre of Cantaloupe is in Africa, from where it spread to Asia, a place where many Cantaloupe varieties developed. Thus, choice Cantaloupes are native to Central Asia and the Middle East, but nowadays are also cultivated in the temperate zone. True, cultivated Cantaloupes are divided into six groups. Greenish coloured Melons of Kasaba ripen late and may be stored until December. Melons of Adana are characterized by a longish shape and a fine net-like rind. Cantaloupes are roundish shaped, they ripen early and their fruits are fragrant and strongly striated. C. melo convar. chandalak has a short cultivation period and its fruit is roundish. The fruit of C. melo convar. ameri is longish, segmented, and very sweet. Varieties belonging to the C. melo convar. zard group are special, as their fruits have excellent taste and may be stored as late as May. Sown in place, Cantaloupes develop strong roots reaching a depth of one metre, their shoots are hispid, square, branching and decumbent. Their leaves are simple, with round, kidney- or heart-shaped, triangular or pentagonal, entire or lobed lamellas. Flowers may have a pistil or stamens, or may be hermaphroditic, the plant is monoecious or dioecious. Fruits are spherical, flattened spherical, ovoid, or egg-shaped, many-seeded pepos, which may reach a weight of 0.5-20 kg. In Hungary, generally varieties developing 0.5-5.0 kg fruits are grown. Its surface is smooth, lightly or deeply striated, or net-like, and the colour of the juicy fruit pulp may be greenish white, pale green, yellow or even orange. 300-600 flat seeds, rounded at one end, are located within the fruit cavity. Cantaloupes are plants that require light and warmth; moreover, they bring forth an adequate quantity and quality of fruit only if they have an abundant supply of nutrients and are amply irrigated. Cantaloupes are one of the most popular fruits of summer, and as far as their cultivation is concerned, varieties that ripen early, or during the summer, and lesser known, late-ripening winter varieties suited for expanding choice, are kept records of.

Use in alternative medicine

By the present day many scientific experiments have confirmed the beneficent physiological effects of the bioactive substances, such as vitamins and flavonoids, found in different fruits and vegetables. In Cantaloupes vitamins and other components having antioxidant effects may be found which make their consumption highly recommendable, as frequently as possible during their season. Due to their high content in water and minerals, they help the functioning of the stomach and intestines, and in addition they have diuretic effects. Their folic acid content is outstanding among fruits, which is important because Cantaloupes are primarily consumed raw, thus their entire content in folic acid, otherwise sensitive to heat, may be utilised.

Use in cosmetics

The fruit pulp and juice of Cantaloupes are used by the cosmetics industry as alleviating agents. Thanks to its antioxidant flavonoid content, Cantaloupe has beneficent effects on stressed, tired, and ageing skin. Its fruit, containing simple carbohydrates, carotene, and other vitamins and minerals, has hydrating and regenerating effects when applied on dry, dehydrated skin.

Active ingredients

Protein: 0,3 %
Organic acids: 0,1 %
Carbohydrates: 9,5 %
Minerals mg/100g
- Phosphorus: 10
- Calcium: 12,6
- Potassium: 210
- Magnesium: 20
Vitamins mg/100g
- Niacin: 0,2
- Panthotenic acid: 0,08
- C: 35
- Carotene: 1,8
- E: 0,3
Vitamins: g/100g
- B1: 45
- B2: 20
- Biotin: 0,8
- Folic acid: 24
Flavonoids
- Apigenin: 25,8 mg/100g