Chapter 12 - Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities of Citrullus colocynthis seed oil

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Abstract

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. is a perennial creeping herbaceous vine commonly found in sandy desert areas. It is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae and native to the Mediterranean basin, West Asia, and the coast of North Africa. Its common names include colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, vine of Sodom, among others. Citrullus colocynthis seed contains 7.0% oil, 11.7% protein, 29.5% carbohydrates, and 5.51% dietary fiber. The oil contains 17%–23% fatty acids which consists of linoleic, palmitic oleic and stearic acids. The seed oil is rich in tocopherols, primarily beta-tocopherol. Numerous medicinal properties have been associated with plant and seed extracts of C. colocynthis. This article focuses on the use of colocynth seed oil and its antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, insecticidal and other useful and important properties.

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