Cucumber

BOTANY

Cucumis sativus L. is an annual herb from the Curcubitaceae family, commonly know as cucumber.

This annual plant can reach 1-4 m and has a canopy of large green leaves over the fruits. Leaves are
single, alternate rough and petiolate. Fruits grow on lateral sprouts that emerge from the leaves axils.
Since this plant bears tendrils, it may grow either creeping or climbing a trellis. The thick and thorny
stems have nodes, each bearing a tendril and a leaf.

The fruit, cucumber, is a vegetable with a dark green or yellowish peel (depending on the cultivar)
cylindrical and elongated shape and about 30 cm long. The pulp is white and watery, with small flat
seeds all along the fruit.

Cucumber extract is produced from the fruits of Cucumis sativus L.

CHEMISTRY

Carbohydrates
Mono and oligosaccharides
Main sugars in food vegetables are glucose and fructose (0.3-4%) as well as saccharose (0.1-
12%). Small amounts of other sugars can also be found (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).
Polysaccharides
Starch is widely spread in vegetables as a reserve carbohydrate. Other polysaccharides found in
vegetables are cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).

Organic acids
The main acids in vegetables are citric and malic acids (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).

Phenol compounds
P-hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, flavones and flavonols are widely spread compounds in
vegetables (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).

Vitamins
Cucumber is a vegetable rich in vitamin C and vitamin B (Musmade & Desai, 1998).
Table 1 summarizes the vitamin content in cucumber:

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 Content
Vitamins (mg/100 g dry weight)
Ascorbic acid 11
Thiamin 0.03
Riboflavin 0.04
Nicotinic acid 0.2
Folic acid 0.02
Table 1. Vitamin content in cucumber (mg/ 100 g fresh
weight). (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997)

Minerals
Table 2 shows the mineral content in cucumber. Potassium is by far, the most abundant component in
this fraction, followed by calcium, sodium and magnesium. The most important anions are phosphate,
chlorine and carbonate (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).

Content
Minerals (mg/100 g fresh tissue)
K 141
Na 8.5
Ca 15
Mg 8
Fe 0.5
Mn 0.2
Cu 0.1
Zn 0.2
P 23
Cl 37
F 0.02
I 0.003
Table 2. Minerals in cucumber (mg/100 g fresh
tissue). (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997)

Aromatic substances
The following aldehydes are essential components of cucumber aroma: trans-2,cis-6-nonadienal and
trans-2-nonenal. Linoleic and linolenic acids are precursors to these and some other aldehydes (cis-3-
hexenal, trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-nonenal) (Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W., 1997).
These aromatic substances are the main cause of the astringent flavor of cucumber (Musmade & Desai,
1998).

Bitter principles
Cucumber has a characteristic bitter principle called cucurbitin, which is a tetracyclic triterpene
(Musmade & Desai, 1998).

TRADITIONAL USES

Cucumber pulp, macerated in alcohol and subsequently distilled, is used

to prepare an ointment for external applications that refresh and smooth
dry skin. Applied as poultice, cucumber pulp is beneficial for throat-
related illnesses. Furthermore, emulsion of cucumber seeds is applied to
treat hemorrhoids, rash, abscesses and other skin eruptions.
Finally, cucumber juice is an excellent treatment for skin rash,
inflammation, etc., when applied as a lotion or used to wash the affected
zone. Furthermore, it works wonderfully to smooth the skin and erase
skin spots, freckles and wrinkles, thus rejuvenating the skin.

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COSMETIC PROPERTIES

Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) regulatory activity

Carbohydrates are active principles extensively used in cosmetics. Monosaccharides are hygroscopic,
namely they absorb water thus contributing to keep a healthy moisture level in the horny layer.
Oligosaccharides have the same property. These active compounds build hydrogen bonds, prevent
massive water loss and reduce dehydration. Additionally, some of these compounds make a protective
coat on the skin, thus preventing and slowing down transepidermal water loss.

Laboratory and clinical tests provide strong evidence that vitamins, used in
proper amounts, play an important role in skin protection, correction, and
renewal. Laboratory and clinical studies indicate that topically applied vitamins
are beneficial to treat several skin disorders and especially, to prevent delay or
arrest certain age-associated degenerative changes, such as skin dryness and
desquamation. Furthermore, the nature of vitamins has prompted their use in
creams and lotions to maintain a soft and smooth skin by replenishing natures
moisture. They are functional, penetrate the skin and are safe (Idson, B., 1993).

Thus, cucumber extract is recommended to formulate cosmetic products with moisturizing, refreshing
and soothing actions, including hair care.

Antioxidant activity
Phenol compounds have antioxidant activity, which mainly depends on their ability to reduce free
radicals and to chelate metals, thus preventing free radicals catalyzing reactions (Lpez Luengo, M.T.,
2002). This activity helps to deal with aging processes.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with radical scavenging activity very useful in the treatment of
photoaging. Vitamin C has photoprotective properties similar to those of vitamin E. Vitamin C can
neutralize free radicals generated by UVB radiation. In a study carried out with pigs, a vitamin C 10%
pretreatment was found to reduce UVB-induced erythema and skin burns. Ascorbate may also have
similar protective effects on UVA radiation, since in a further study it reduced UVA-induced skin burns in
psoralen-sensitized pigs. Other experimental models using human skin demonstrated similar effects for
ascorbate as well as for the combination of ascorbate and vitamin E (Chiu, A. & Kimball, AB., 2003).

Considering these two compounds it can be said that cucumber helps also to maintain hair color,
avoiding its fading as a result of a fast oxidative process.

Therefore, cucumber extract is recommended to formulate cosmetic products aimed at the protection of
skin and hair integrity against oxidative processes.

Vitamin and mineral replenishing activity

Incorporation of cucumber to the world of cosmetics helps restore the natural skin balance, due to its
vitamins and minerals.

In terms of beauty and functionality, current studies indicate that certain vitamins
and their derivatives enhance the performance of cosmetics and toiletries.
Furthermore, laboratory and clinical tests provide strong evidence that these
vitamins, used in proper amounts, play an important role in the protection,
correction, and renewal processes of skin. Laboratory and clinical studies indicate
that topically applied vitamins are beneficial to treat several skin disorders and
especially to prevent, delay or arrest certain age-associated degenerative changes,
such as skin dryness as well as the formation of wrinkles (Idson, B., 1993).

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Moreover, vitamins are used in cosmetics to maintain a soft and smooth skin and hair. Of particular
interest are vitamins E, A, and C, which are useful to get to the inner cells and when used in proper
amounts, they are safe and free of side effects (Idson, B., 1993).

Thus cucumber extract is recommendable to formulate cosmetic products with stimulating and revitalizing
activity, also for hair care products.

Finally, we would like to mention that the publication Plant preparations used as
ingredients of cosmetics products. Vol.I (Council of Europe Press, 1994) includes
a monograph on the fresh juice extracted from Cucumis sativus L. fruits, where
the following cosmetic effects are attributed to it:

refreshing, emollient, lenitive, anti-itching

a further possible effect is astringency

COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

Action Active Cosmetic Applications

- Moisturizing
Carbohydrates
TEWL regulation - Refreshing
Vitamins
- Smoothing

- Hair color protection

Phenol compounds
Antioxidant - Anti-aging
Vitamins
- Photo-protection
Vitamins - Stimulant
Vitamin and mineral replenishing
Minerals - Revitalizing

RECOMMENDED DOSE

The recommended dose is between 0.5% and 5.0%.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Belitz, HD. & Grosch, W. Qumica de los Alimentos. Zaragoza: Ed.Acribia S.A, 1997,p: 825-860 (613
BEL).
Chiu, A. & Kimball AB. Topical vitamins, minerals and botanical ingredients as modulators of
environmental and chronological skin damage. Br J Dermatol., 2003; 149: 681-691.
Council of Europe. Plants preparations used as ingredients of cosmetic products. Strasbourg Cedex:
Council of Europe Publishing, 1994; p: 136-137 (61*8 PAT).
Idson, B. Vitamins and the Skin. Cosmetics & Toiletries, 1993; 108:(12): 79-94 (ref. 1202).
Lpez Luengo, M.T. Flavonoides. OFFARM, 2002; 21 (4): 108-114.
Musmade & Desai. Cucumber and Melon. In Handbook of Vegetable Science and Technology.
Production, Composition, Storage, and Processing. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1998; p: 245-272
(ref. 641* SAL).
Yu, RJ & Van Scott, EJ. Hydroxycarboxylic acids, N-acetylamino sugars, and N-acetylamino acids.
Skinmed., 2002; 1 (2): 117-22.

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