Cucumber

The cucumber belongs to the gourdfamily (Cucurbitaceae).

Originally native to India, cultivated forms are now grown worldwide. Today, the cucumber is one of the most economically important vegetables.

Due to their different uses, there are two main groups of varieties:

1. Cucumber; eaten raw without the skin
2. pickling cucumber, gherkin or cornichon ("pickled cucumber").

Further preparations:

• Mustard gherkins, pickled and cooked ripe gherkins seasoned with mustard seeds.
• Honey gherkins, peeled, seeded and diced cucumbers pickled in a mixture of honey, lemon juice, vinegar and spices.

In Asia, the seeds are also eaten. Cucumber oil is pressed from the seeds and can be used for cooking.

Other uses in cosmetic applications:

• Use as cosmetic ingredient (for skin care and for smoothing the skin)
• Cucumis sativus extract (INCI). Extract from the fruit of the cucumber. Contains phytosterols as main constituents.
• Cucumis sativus juice (INCI). Juice pressed from the fresh pulp of the cucumber.
• Cucumis sativus oil (INCI). Fatty oil pressed from the fruit of the cucumber.

Allergological relevance: Systemic food allergies to cucumbers are extremely rare. Also an oral allergy syndrome can occur in very rare cases.

Prick/Scratch with native material, RAST (Ph.)

1. Asero R et al (2000). Fennel, cucumber, and melon allergy successfully treated with pollen-specific injection immunotherapy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 84:460-462
2. Fiume MM et al (2014) Safety Assessment of Cucumis sativus (Cucumber)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol 33(2 suppl):47S-64S
3. Gandía-Herrero Fet al (2003) Tyrosinase inhibitory activity of cucumber compounds: enzymes responsible for browning in cucumber. J Agricultural Food Chem 51:7764-7769
4. Kai H et al (2008) Inhibitory effect of Cucumis sativus on melanin production in melanoma B16 cells by downregulation of tyrosinase expression. Planta Med 74:1785-1788