• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2023

Objectives: Cucumis sativus L. (C. sativus) is vegetable commonly used for managing blood pressure and often consumed in combination with standard antihypertensive therapy, despite lack of scientific evidence supporting their use. Combination of herbs and standard medication could have positive or negative effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of C. sativus and the combined effect with losartan in the hypertensive rat model induced by angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that, upon binding to its receptor, constricts blood vessels leading to elevation of blood pressure. Methods: In an antihypertensive study, rats received C. sativus orally at doses of 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg (full dose); while in a combination study, animals received losartan 2.25 mg/kg combined by either with C. sativus 9 or 18 mg/kg. The standards group received losartan 2.25 mg/kg or 4.5 mg/kg (full dose). Results: Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method. C. sativus significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced hypertension as observed in groups receiving C. sativus at 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg at 30 minutes after induction showed the average change (Δ) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with respect to time zero were 28.8/18.3, 24.8/15.8, 22.8/15.5, and 11.5/9.0 mmHg, respectively. Whereas the average change (Δ) of SBP and DBP in the rats receiving the combination of half doses of C. sativus and losartan were 8.8/9.0 mmHg, respectively. These diminished effects were better than a full dose of C. sativus and comparable with a full dose of losartan (6.5/7.8 mmHg). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that C. sativus dose-dependently blocks blood pressure elevation induced by angiotensin II. The combination of half dose of C. sativus and losartan has an additive effect in lowering blood pressure.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.93-105
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• 2015

This study was performed to analyze genetic relationships of the four major cucurbitaceous crops including watermelon, melon, cucumber, and squash/pumpkin. Among 120 EST-SSR primer sets selected from the International Cucurbit Genomics Initiative (ICuGI) database, PCR was successful for 51 (49.17%) primer sets and 49 (40.8%) primer sets showed polymorphisms among eight Cucurbitaceae accessions. A total of 382 allele-specific PCR bands were produced by 49 EST-SSR primers from 24 Cucurbitaceae accessions and used for analysis of pairwise similarity and dendrogram construction. Assessment of the genetic relationships resulted in similarity indexes ranging from 0.01 to 0.85. In the dendrogram, 24 Cucurbitaceae accessions were classified into two major groups (Clade I and II) and 8 subgroups. Clade I comprised two subgroups, Clade I-1 for watermelon accessions [I-1a and I-1b-2: three wild-type watermelons (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides Mats. & Nakai), I-1b-1: six watermelon cultivars (Citrullus lanatus var. vulgaris S chrad.)] a nd C lade I -2 for melon and cucumber accessions [I-2a-1 : 4 melon cultivars(Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Naudin.), I-2a-2: oriental melon cultivars (Cucumis melo var. conomon Makino.), and I-2b: five cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus L.)]. Squash and pumpkin accessions composed Clade II {II-1: two squash/ pumpkin cultivars [Cucurbita moschata (Duch. ex Lam.)/Duch. & Poir. and Cucurbita maxima Duch.] and II-2: two squash/pumpkin cultivars, Cucurbita pepo L./Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche.}. These results were in accordance with previously reported classification of Cucurbitaceae species, indicating that watermelon EST-SSRs show a high level of marker transferability and should be useful for genetic study in other cucurbit crops.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2020

Powdery mildew is a common and serious disease of the Cucurbitaceae including cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in most areas of the world. To identify causal agents of the powdery mildew and their physiological race(s), we collected cucumber leaves displaying typical symptoms of powdery mildew from different locations in Korea. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, all powdery mildew isolates were identified as an obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen, Podosphaera xanthii. After inoculation at melon (Cucumis melo) differentials to identify the fungal race(s), P. xanthii isolate MI180427 and IC190611 were identified as race 1 which has been repeatedly reported as dominant race in Korea. However, another isolate SE180328 produced different disease response in the tested differentials, being identified as race 2 which has not been reported in Korea. To confirm the race of SE180328, we inoculated additional melon differentials and determined the isolate as race 2F that is the prevalent race of powdery mildew in Beijing, China. Report of this new race 2F in Korea will be helpful for future breeding programs to develop resistant varieties to this race.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.220-223
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• 2002

In April of 2002, fruit rot infected with blue mold was found at maturing stage of melon (Cucumis melo cv. Gayabaegja) growing under tunnel cultivation in Daesan-myon, Haman-gun, Gyeongnam Province, Korea. Floral parts were infected first and colonized by fungal mycelial mats. From the point of infection, fruits become collapsed and mostly ruptured. The pathogenic fungus from infected fruits was isolated. Colony color of the fungus was white on MEA and CYA agar, Conidia were ellipsoid and 2.6~7.4$\times$2.6~5.8 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size. Stipes were 86~320$\times$2.8~4.3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size. Metulae were 12.4~31.6$\times$2.6~4.2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size. Phialides were ampulliform to cylindroid, and 8.2~15.4$\times$3.6~4.6 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in size. Rate of infected fruits in the field was 4.3%. Based on the cultural and mycological characteristics and pathogenecity test on host plants, the fungus was identified as Penicillium oxalicum, This is the first report on the blue mold of melon (Cucumis melo) caused by P. oxalicum in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

Sodium is known to reduce a plant growth and yields. However, the relationships between physiological response of seedling and salinity stress caused by growing media are not well understood yet. We conducted experiments to investigate change of some parameters including Na, EC, moisture content in media under different air temperature ($15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$), and the response of fruit-vegetables such as cucumber, oriental melon on saline conditions originated from horticultural substrate. Volumetric moisture content of media at $15^{\circ}C$ was 70%, but at $25^{\circ}C$ was decreased by 45% within 22 hrs, showing below optimal matric potential, approximately. During reaction time, the increase of Na concentration was significantly greater in saline substrate than in control. The decrease rate of Na concentration according to supplying irrigation water was higher in saline substrate than in control. $CO_2$ assimilation rate and transpiration rate of Korea melon grown in low temperature were decreased with a Na/cation ratio in hydroponic solution. Water saturation deficit was also increased significantly at $15^{\circ}C$ as compare to $25^{\circ}C$. Saline stress during nursery stage induced a reduction of seedling quality, growth and cucumber yield. The results suggest that the relationship between uncontrolled Na uptake of seedling from saline substrate and meteological condition is responsible for saline stress.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2014

The effects of the ice pack and aluminum coated board in the corrugated boxes for maintaining the quality of fresh oriental melons (Cucumis melo var. makuwa) were investigated. The harvested oriental melons were stored at a temperature of $30^{\circ}C$ for 21 days after placing them in the corrugated boxes treated with control, including ice pack and aluminum coated board. The treatment with the ice pack and aluminum coated board was identified to have maintained the relative low temperature in the corrugated box against the high temperature from the environment. For the storage study of the oriental melon, the treatments with the ice pack and aluminum coated board reduced the respiration rate, the development of external color, and total weight loss. All treatments were also effective in maintaining the firmness and decreasing the decay ratio of the oriental melon as compared to those that were controlled. However, the value of total soluble solids regarding the fruit was insignificantly affected by the ice pack treatment. The results indicated that the application of the ice pack and aluminum coated board in the corrugated box played an important role in maintaining the quality of oriental melons during storage. The combination with the ice pack and aluminum coated board had more effective values on the storage qualities for oriental melons than that with the ice pack only. Based on the results of this study, the ice pack and aluminum coated board were the useful treatments for reducing the loss of quality of the fresh oriental melons in high temperature storage conditions.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 1996

This experiment was conducted to characterize and quantify the free sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose) contained in many different portions of watermelon (Citrus vulgaris L.) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Naud.) fruits by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Free sugars were mainly fructose, glucose, sucrose, and their contents were variable among portions. Total free sugar contents were higher in the stylar end and side than in the stem end of both watermelon and muskmelon. Total free sugar contents increased from the periphery toward the central core in watermelon and except central core content seeds in muskmelon Ratio of nonreducing to reducing sugars [(fructose + glucose)/sucrose] was gradually decreased from the periphery toward the middle area in watermelon, though the central core showed higher value than the middle area. For the edible portion of muskmelon, the ratio was decreased toward middle area, and no significant difference was observed between the central core and the middle area. However, reducing sugars and nonreducing sugar were all increased from the periphery toward the central core in watermelon. In contrast with watermelon, reducing sugars were decreased in muskmelon.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.246.1-246
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• 2001

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.185-185
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2001