Cantaloupe (kharbooza) : Pharmacognosy & Medicinal Uses

Cantaloupe is commonly known as muskmelon or kharbooja in India. This fruit is rich in various nutrients like folates, carotenoids, vitamin C, Potassium, phosphorus and fiber. Along with the presence of these nutrients cantaloupe gives many health benefits. Some of the health benefits which it provides are:

• Cantaloupe is high in dietary fiber so helps to remove toxins from the body and it also gives satiety value so the person does not feel hungry for the long time after eating it. Fiber present in cantaloupe is also very important to prevent constipation. 

• Cantaloupe is also very much rich in vitamin C which is a strong antioxidant and helps to prevent diseases by minimizing bad effects of free radicals  in the body. Antioxidants also help to prevent many chronic degenerative diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, and many more. Vitamin C is a water soluble nutrient and is important for the growth and repair of tissues within the body. It also helps in the collagen formation which is required for the skin tissues and thus delays the early aging of the skin. 

• Cantaloupes contain concentrated form of beta carotene which is a precursor of vitamin A means this beta carotene is converted to vitamin A in our body. Vitamin A is a nutrient required for good vision and it also prevents the lung cancer. Vitamin A is also an antioxidant so helps to prevent many diseases and reverse the actions of free radicals in the body. Cantaloupes are also very beneficial if you are a smoker because smoking can cause vitamin A deficiency which may further lead to many diseases. 

• Cantaloupe is rich in potassium which is helpful for the hypertensive patients as this helps to lower the high blood pressure and promotes the supply of oxygen to the brain and thus reduces stress and person feels more relaxed. 

• Muskmelons are found to have sedative properties so beneficial for the people suffering from insomnia. 

• Cantaloupes do not contain cholesterol so good for the people suffering from heart ailments.  

• All the melons along with muskmelon are very beneficial in summers as they combat the bad effects of heat. So try a muskmelon if you are feeling tired after coming back from a hot sunny day. It will give you instant energy. 

• Cantaloupe is low in calories, fats and high in fiber so a great fruit for the people on weight loss.

• Folate present in cantaloupe is required for healthy growth and maintenance of cells and it also prevents anaemia. Folate also helps to prevent neurological defects in the newborns. Thus a very beneficial fruit for the pregnant women. 

• Muskmelon juice if taken regularly helps to treat lack of appetite, acidity and gastrointestinal ulcers.

If you are health conscious and are trying to lose weight then the cantaloupe melon must be a priority on your menu! Known by various names like mushmelon, muskmelon, rockmelon or simply melon, the cantaloupe is the most popular variety of melons from cucumber family. Other members from this group include squash, pumpkin and gourd. Ranging in colour from orange-yellow to salmon, cantaloupes are a round, seeded fruit with a soft and juicy flesh that tastes and smells very sugary yet tangy. The refreshingly rich flavour and aroma, coupled with minimum calories, makes this fruit a famous one. Sometimes, it is referred to as netted melon, reason being it has a ribbed rind with a distinctive netted skin. Besides being consumed as a raw fruit, cantaloupes are also used as appetizers and as ingredients for preparing exotic desserts and salads. As you leaf through the following sections, you can discover the health benefits of cantaloupes.

What the West refers to as a cantaloupe, the rest of the world calls a muskmelon. Used interchangeably, cantaloupes have their origin dating back to as early as 2000BC along Egypt’s Nile Valley. While some historians believe that they this fruit was founded in Egypt and Greece, others claim that its cultivation was first done in Persia, Armenia and India. During the ancient times, the Romans got their supply of cantaloupes from Armenia. But it was only in the 14^th century that these melons gained popularity in Italy and slowly, southern parts of Spain in the 15^th century. Arabs living in Andalusia took the seeds of cantaloupe along with them to increase trade relations. In 1494, Christopher Columbus introduced cantaloupes to the New World, particularly North America, on his second voyage. The seeds were later planted in the Papal gardens in Cantalupo city near Tivoli in Italy around the 16^th century. It was here that the fruit got its name, derived from the commune ‘Cantalupo’. Thereafter, in the 17^th century, France saw the spread of cantaloupes. W. Atlee Burpee Company introduced the netted gem variety of these melons in the US, which grew steadily in Colorado by 1895. Post the Civil War, the fruit gained tremendous recognition. This is when their commercialization began. During the 1900s, British writer, Michael Arlen, on his trip to Armenia, confirmed the fact that cantaloupes made their entry into California through the Armenians itself. The San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley in California are the most popular regions for its cultivation.

Health Benefits of Kharbooza (Cantaloupe)

• Being an excellent source of vitamin A and beta-carotene, cantaloupes are great on the body and eyesight. As such, regular consumption has proven to lower the risk of a cataract surgery.

• The melons are loaded with vitamin C, which help in fighting free radicals, as the latter are responsible for damaging cells, causing diseases and signs of ageing.

• Recent studies reveal that cantaloupes are extremely beneficial for smokers. Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens which deficit the amount of vitamin A in the body. By including cantaloupes in your diet, the deficiency can be reversed and it also lowers the risk of developing lung diseases like emphysema.

• Enriched with a compound called adenosine, which has blood-thinning properties, cantaloupes prevent clotting of blood in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, the folate content in the melons prevents heart attacks.

• For anxious and stressed individuals, cantaloupes are excellent as they are rich in potassium. The juicy fruits are responsible in bringing the heart rate back to normal and promoting oxygen supply to the brain.

• Cantaloupes are a good source of folate, which is necessary for the production and maintenance of the growth of new cells. Furthermore, it is significant during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy.

• Not just delicious and succulent, cantaloupes are rich in beta-carotene that benefits the body by lowering any risks of cancers of the larynx, esophagus and lungs.

• Low in saturated fat and cholesterol, cantaloupe melons contain antioxidants which combat oxidative stress and prevent the oxidation of the low density lipoprotein.

Nutritional Value & Calories In Cantaloupe 

Amount: 1 cup

Total Weight: 177 g

How many calories in cantaloupes (per 100 gm)

Cantaloupes have about 34 calories per 100 gm of weight.

How to Buy Cantaloupes

• As a general rule, always look for cantaloupes that are evenly shaped and do not contain any bruises, cracks or soft spots.

• To enjoy these juicy fruits to the maximum, select ones those are heavy.

• If you see the stem still attached to a cantaloupe, it has been picked too early. On the contrary, ripe cantaloupes have a mildly sweet fragrance. Overripe melons give out an unpleasant odour.

• Research indicates that fruits which fully ripe, but just before the point of spoilage, have increased levels of antioxidants.

Cantaloupe Storage Tips

• Cantaloupes continue to ripen even after they have been plucked. Thus, if you buy the ripe varieties, it is advisable to consume them as soon as possible.

• Firm cantaloupes can be stored at room temperature so that they develop a softer and juicier flesh. After the fruit has become ripe, refrigerate for later consumption.

• Cut out cantaloupe melons should be wrapped in a plastic sheet so that the ethylene gas that it emits does not affect the taste and texture of other fruits and vegetables stored in the refrigerator. They may also be kept at room temperature for a short period of time, about 2-4 hours, after which, they are not considered safe for consumption.

antaloupe grows naturally in the continents of Africa and Asia. According to a study published in the 2008 issue of “World Applied Sciences Journal," records show that the cultivation of cantaloupes started in 2400 B.C. Many people eat cantaloupe because of its juicy, tasty flavor. Some people even use it as an appetizer and as an ingredient for desserts and salads. 

Nutritional values and health benefits of cantaloupe (kharbooza)