Cucumber, citrus and grapes in the Mediterranean diet and their health effects
What it found
Cucumber contains natural compounds that showed antioxidant, blood sugar lowering and anti-cancer effects in lab tests and animals.
The authors say more clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits in people.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Antioxidant effects in labs
In lab tests, tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids from cucumber acted as free radical scavengers. These compounds help reduce oxidative stress in cells.
Anti-cancer activity in cells
Extracts of cucumber leaves stopped the growth of two human cancer cell lines in lab dishes. This effect was seen at doses of 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg. The authors credited triterpenoid compounds for this activity.
Blood sugar in diabetic rats
In diabetic rats, ethanol extracts of cucumber fruit significantly lowered blood sugar levels. The extracts also reduced high lipid levels in the same animals.
Antimicrobial effects in labs
Methanol extract of cucumber seeds inhibited several bacteria in lab tests. Volatile cucumber oil also showed antibacterial and antifungal properties against multiple bacterial strains.
Other findings
What cucumber contains
Cucumber fruit is 96.4% water, 2.8% carbohydrate, 0.4% protein and 0.1% fat. It also holds small amounts of minerals, iron and vitamin B. Its seeds contain flavonoids, tannins and other plant chemicals.
What the authors conclude
- They note that plant-based food chemicals have become popular for many health conditions and cosmetic uses.
- They say that carefully designed clinical trials are still required to explore the therapeutic potential of these Mediterranean diet ingredients.
How it was done
The Mediterranean diet relies on daily fruit and vegetables for health benefits. The authors wanted to gather what is known about the natural plant chemicals in cucumber, citrus and grapes and how they might affect health.
The authors gathered and summarised existing research on the plant chemicals found in cucumber, citrus fruit and grapes. They looked at studies done in cells, animals and people to describe the reported health effects of these foods.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the findings for cucumber come from cell and animal studies. These cannot show what happens when people eat cucumber.
- A review gathers past work but does not run new experiments, so it cannot prove cause and effect on its own.
The paper
- Title
- Foods of the Mediterranean diet: citrus, cucumber and grape
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Naureen Z, Dhuli K, Donato K, et al (2022). Foods of the Mediterranean diet: citrus, cucumber and grape. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene. doi:10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2743Free full textPubMed 36479487DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error