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INTRODUCTION

Activities:

Antityrosinase, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyaluronidase, anti-elastase

Important Chemical Components:

Extracts: glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, lutein, carbohydrates, tannins, and terpenoids.1,2 A group of triterpenoids known as cucurbitacins (particularly cucurbitacin D and 23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin D),3 cucumegastigmanes I and II, cucumerin A and B, vitexin, orientin, isoscoparin 2”-O-(6”-(E)-p-coumaroyl) glucoside, apigenin 7-O-(6”-O-p-coumaroylglucoside)4

Pulp: Water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), caffeic acid, lactic acid4

Seeds:α- and β-amyrin, sitosterols, cucurbitasides2

Origin Classification:

This ingredient is considered natural. Organic forms are available.

Personal Care Category:

Depigmenting, anti-inflammatory, occlusive, emollient, sun protective, antioxidant, antiwrinkle, scar treatment, and first aid for burns

Recommended for the following Baumann Skin Types:

DRPT, DRPW, DSPT, DSPW, ORPT, ORPW, OSPT, and OSPW

SOURCE

Cucumis sativus, an annual creeping vine, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon, and squash. Found wildly in the Himalayan region and commonly referred to as cucumber in English, khira in Hindi, sakusa as well as trapusah in Sanskrit, sasa in Bengali, and vellarikkay in Tamil, the plant is cultivated throughout India and China, in particular, as well as Europe and the United States.2,5 It is grown as a food crop, with its fruit, the cucumber, found in many cuisines as well as a component in traditional medicine and folk cosmetics.6

HISTORY

C. sativus has been cultivated in Asia for 3,000 years as a food source (Table 41-1).7 It has also long been used for cosmetic purposes as the cucumber is known to impart a healing, soothing, and cooling effect to irritated skin.7 Its use for treating hyperpigmentation dates back centuries.5 The leaves, fruits, and seeds of C. sativus have been used in traditional Indian medicine, especially Ayurveda, to treat numerous skin conditions, including sunburn and under-eye swelling, and it has been noted for its soothing, antipruritic, emollient effects.5 Other medical indications for cucumber arose during its early use, and included headaches and acne (for which the fruit juice was used as a demulcent in lotions); the seeds were also used as a diuretic.2 In traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves, roots, and stems of the plant have been used to detoxify as well as to treat diarrhea and gonorrhea.6 In addition, the application of cucumber slices to ameliorate swelling or dark circles under the eyes has long been accepted throughout the world as an effective treatment.

TABLE 41-1Pros and Cons of Cucumber

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