Syonyms:
Bryonia collosa Rottler; Cucumis collosus (Rottler) Cogn.; Cucumis trigonus Roxb. fide USN; Cucumis utilissimus Roxburgh fide NPM
Notes (melon):
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
Numbers 11:5‑6 (KJV)
We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.
Numbers 11:5‑6 (RSV)
How we remember the fish that we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers and the water melons, and the leeks and the onions, and the garlic; But now our soul is dried away. Our eyes are on nothing at all except the manna.
Numbers 11:5‑6 (NWT)
Some think the biblical melon was this; others think, as did the NWT translators, that it was watermelon. Both are cultivated as pleasantly juicy fruits today in the Holy Land and other arid lands, always welcome in dry climates. We will never be sure what the non-taxonomic scholars implied. Even some hard-core taxonomists are loathe to make herbarium priligy online specimens of melons. Hence, I include both in my faith-based food farmacy, although the word “melon” shows up only once in my computerized version of the Bible. Zohary insists that the Hebrew words kishuim and mikshaw must equate to muskmelons, arguing that cucumbers did not exist in Egypt in biblical times. That makes the NWT even more interesting if one reads “muskmelon” instead of “cucumber.”
Common Names (Melon):
Afqous (Ber.; BOU); Aggour (Arab.; BI2; BOU); Al Bata (Mali; UPW); Ao Uri (Japan; TAN); Bachang (Kon.; NAD); Bambous (Ber.; BOU); Batanyah (Hausa; Nig.; UPW); Battikh Asfar (Arab.; Syria; HJP); Bettikha (Arab.; BOU); Bittikh (Arab.; BOU); Blewah (Java; TAN); Cantaloupe (Eng.; CR2); Cataloup (Fr.; EFS); Chibuda (Bom.; DEP); Chibunda (Mar.; DEP); Cikiire (Fula; Nig.; UPW); Dungra (India; DEP); Esaka (Cameroon; UPW); Feggous (Arab.; BOU); Ghurmi (Mooshar; Satar; NPM); Gidhro (Sin.; DEP); Gidro (Sin.; NAD); Goihmha (Tharu; NPM); Hsiang Inabe (Togo;
UPW); Kakari (Nepal; NPM); Kalinga (Sanskrit; EFS; NAD); Kalingada (Kan.; NAD); Kan Kua (China; EFS); Kanteloep (Dutch; EFS); Kavun (Tur.; EFS; EB54:155); Khad (Sen.; UPW); Kharbazeh (Iran; DEP); Kharbuja (Bal.; Hindi; Nepal; DEP; KAB; NPM); Kharmuj (Beng.; DEP); Kharvuja kamagra
(Sanskrit; DEP); Khurbuj (India; EFS); Khurbuza (Kangra; DEP); Kishuim (Heb.; ZOH); Kua (China; EFS); Kurubombonmesengo (Gambia; UPW); Makuwauri (Japan; EFS); Ma-ru-tse (Tibet; NPM); Mazarisharif (Afg.; TAN); Melâo (Mad.; Por.; EFS); Melâo Casca de Carvalho (Por.; AVP); Melâo de Mesa (Por.; AVP); Meloen (Sur.; AVP); Melon Kamagra italia (Den.; Eng.; Fr.; Swe.; AH2; BOU; CR2; EFS; NPM); Melón (Peru; Sp.; EGG); Melón Almazaleno (Sp.; AVP); Melón de Castilla (Haiti; AVP); Melon d’Espagne (Haiti; AVP); Melone (Ger.; It.; AVP; EFS); Melonegurke (Ger.; NAD); Melon France (Haiti; AVP); Melon Musqué (Fr.; Guad.; Mart.; St. Lucia; AVP); Melon Sucré (Fr.; EFS); Mikshaw (Heb.; ZOH); Mulampandu (Tel.; DEP); Mulkun Noshi (Korea; TAN); Muskmelon (Eng.; AVP; BOU; ZOH); Nashiuri (Japan; TAN); Phut (Nepal; NPM); Popone (It.; AVP); Qawoun (Arab.; Syria; BOU; HJP); Quisu Im (Heb.; BI2); Remó (Naga; DEO); Sakkar Teti (India; EFS); Sardapaliz (Afg.; DEP; KAB); Senat (Sudan; UPW); Shammam (Arab.; Leb.; Syria; BOU; JNP); Shamman (Arab.; Nig.; UPW); Shao Kua (China; EFS); Shima Uri (Japan; TAN); Shiro Uri (Japan; TAN); Sirdapaliz (Afg.; DEP; KAB); Small Gourd (Eng.; NPM); Snap Melon (Eng.; NPM); Sweet Melon (Eng.; EFS); Tarbucha (Guj.; DEP); Tarbuj (San.; DEP); Tarrsimte (Ber.; BOU); Teng Tai (Thai; TAN); T’ien Kua (China; EFS); Turbuch (Guj.; NAD); Urmi (Nepal; NPM); Vaelapalam (Tam.; NAD); Velipandu (Tel.; NAD); Vellari Verai (Tam.; DEP); Yaqtin (Arab.; BOU); Yengani (Ghana; UPW); Yomba (Sen.; UPW); Yüeh Kua (China; EFS); Zaghun (Lad.; DEP); Zuckermelone (Ger.; EFS).
Activities (melon):
Allergenic (1; X14533664); Antiacne (1; PAM); Antiaging (1; FNF); Antiasthmatic (1; PAM); Anticancer (f1: FNF; JNU; PAM); PAM; Antiemetic (f; BIB; LMP); Antiinflammatory (f1; JLH; X15261965); Antimastitic (1; PAM); Antimutagenic (1; FNF); Antioxidant (1; PAM; X15261965); Antiozenic (1; FNF); Antiphotophobic (30–300 mg man/day) (1; M29); AntiPMS (1; JAF34:409); Antiporphyric (30–300 mg/man/day) (1; MAR); Antipityriasic (1;PAM); Antiproliferant (1; JNU); Antipsoriac (1; PAM); Antistress (1; DAS); Antitussive (f; BOU); Antiulcer (1; PAM); Antivinous (f; BIB); Aphrodisiac (f; BIB; KAB); Cardioprotective (1; FNF); Cardiotonic (f; KAB); Cerebrotonic (f; KAB); Demulcent (f; BIB; EFS; UPW); Digestive (f; BIB; BOU; LMP); Diuretic (f; BIB; UPW; WOI); Emetic (f; BIB; BOU; UPW; WBB); Emmenagogue (f; BIB); Emollient (f; WBB); Expectorant (f; BIB; BOU); Fungicide (1; UPW; WBB); Immunostimulant (1; FNF; PAM); Insectifuge (f; HJP); Interferon synergist (1; FNF); Lachrymatory (f; BIB; KAB); Lactagogue (f; KAB); Laxative (f; KAB); Mucogenic (1; PAM); Phagocytotic (1; PAM); Refrigerant (f; BIB; BOU: DEP); Stomachic (f; BIB; EFS; LMP); Taenifuge (f; BIB); Thymoprotective (1; PAM); Tonic (f; BIB); Vermifuge (f; BIB); Vulnerary (f; KAB).
Indications (Melon):
Acne (1; FNF; MAR); Anasarca (f; BIB); Anuria (f; DEP); Apoplexy (f; BIB); Ascites (f; BIB; KAB); Biliousness (f; BIB); Bronchosis (f; BIB); Bruise (f; BIB); Burn (f; BIB); Cancer (f; BIB); Cancer, bladder (f1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, liver (f1; FNF; JLH); Cancer, stomach (f1; BIB; JLH; JNU); Cancer,
uterus (f1; BIB; JNU); Cardiopathy (1; FNF; JNU); Childbirth (f; HJP); Cold (f; BIB); Coryza (f; BIB); Cough (f; BIB; BOU); Cystosis (f; FNF; JLH); Dermatosis (f; BIB); Diabetes (f; BIB); Dyspepsia (f; BIB); Dysuria (f; BIB; DEP; NPM); Eczema (f; BIB; UPW; WOI); Extravasation (f; BIB);
Fatigue (f; BIB); Fever (f; BOU); Freckle (f; BIB); Fungus (1; UPW); Gastrosis (f; JLH); Gonorrhea (f; BIB); Hepatosis (f; BIB; JLH); Hyperkeratosis (1; FNF; PAM; DAS); Ichthyosis (1; FNF); Infection (1; UPW); Inflammation (f1; JLH; X15261965); Insanity (f; KAB); Jaundice (f; BIB; LMP);
Leukoplakia (1; FNF; PAM); Lupus (1; FNF; MAR); Mastosis (1; FNF); Menorrhagia (f; BIB); Mycosis (1; UPW); Nephrosis (f; BIB); Oliguria (f; BIB); Ophthalmia (f; BIB); Pityriasis (1; FNF); Photophobia (1; FNF); PMS (1; FNF); Polyp (f; BIB); Porphyria (1; FNF); Prostatosis (f; FAC); Psoriasis
(1; FNF); Rhinosis (f; BIB); Sore (f; BIB); Sore Throat (f; KAB); Stomatosis (f; BIB); Stress (1; FNF); Sunburn (f; BIB); Sunstroke (f; BIB); Thirst (f; KAB); Tumor (f; BIB); Tympanites (f; DEP); Ulcer (1; FNF); Uterosis (f; JLH); Venereal Disease (f; BIB); Xerophthalmia (1; FNF).
Dosages (Melon):
FNFF = !!!
Fruit widely eaten raw, pickled, or baked; seeds eaten raw or toasted, or slurried in fruit juices; or the oil is expressed. Roasted charmagaz is a mixture of peeled melon, cucumber, pumpkin, and watermelon seed (FAC; TAN; EB54:155); leaves eaten as a relish, vegetable, and in soups (UPW). Algerians give floral tea after surgically removing fetus (HJP). Asian Indians apply bruised seeds to children with tympanites (DEP).
Asian Indians suggest fruit, raw or cooked, as lotion in eczema, freckles, and sunburn (NAD); one fruit a day for eczema (DEP). Asian Indians consider their beverage called burfi good for the prostate (FAC). Asian Indians consider the seed oil diuretic (NAD). Ayurvedics consider the fruit aphrodisiac, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, and tonic, using it for ascites, biliousness, fatigue, and insanity (KAB). Chinese suggest the seed for stomach cancer (JLH). Lebanese rub fruit pulp on breast and give it to weaning children to suck (HJP). Lebanese believe the melon repels bedbugs (HJP). Unani, considering the seed diuretic, lachrymatory, and tonic, use for bronchosis, fever, hepatosis, nephrosis, ophthalmia, sore throat, thirst; the fruit they consider cardiotonic, cerebrotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, lactagogue, used for dysuria and ophthalmia, the vulnerary
rind applied to the hypogastrium as diuretic (KAB).
Extracts (Melon):
Vouldoukis et al. (2004) proved antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities in a melon extract selected for its high superoxide dismutase activity. The extract dose dependently inhibited the production of superoxide anion (maximal at 100 µg/ml). The antiinflammatory properties of the extract were, in part, due to the induction of production of IL-10 by peritoneal macrophages (X15261965). Alpha-spinasterol significantly (circa 1000 x simvastin, a coenzyme-A inhibitor) modulates development and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy. It reduced significantly attendant increases in serum triglycerides, renal weight, and urinary protein excretion in diabetic mice (X15326549).
This article was written and copyrighted to James A. Duke.
