Korean melon

Korean melon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cucumis
Species: C. melo
Variety: C. m. var. makuwa
Trinomial name
Cucumis melo var. makuwa
(Makino) 1928

The Korean melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa) or chamoe (참외) is a type of melon primarily grown in Korea, China, and Japan.[1] The fruit is approximately 10 cm long and typically weighs slightly over 1 pound (0.45 kg).[1][2] It is smooth, yellow, and oblong with white stripes that run the length of the fruit.[1] It has white flesh that is juicy and sweet and the seed cavity is filled with small white seeds.[1] The flavor has been described as a cross between a honeydew melon and a cucumber.[1] The fruits are usually eaten fresh; with its thin rind and small seeds, the melon can be eaten whole.[1][2] The Korean melon can also be fermented, called chamoe jangajji.[1]

Origin

Regarding etymology, the word chamoe comes from two words: cham meaning "high quality" and oe meaning "cucumber".[3]

Phylogenetic studies that trace back the genetic lineage of the plant suggest that the Korean melon may have originated in East India.[1][3][4] They were then thought to have been introduced to China from the west via the Silk Road.[1][5]

Ecology

The Korean melon is a cool sub-temperate crop, growing best with day temperatures between 24 to 29 degrees Celsius and night temperatures between 16 to 24 degrees Celsius.[1] It requires lots of sun and rich, well-drained, friable, and moisture-retaining soil.[1] It is drought tolerant, but nevertheless requires sufficient water for optimal growth.[1]

Botany

The plant, a cucurbit, is an annual herbaceous plant that branches and trails.[1] The stem is angular and hirsute (hairy) and 7mm in diameter.[1] The leaves are reniform (kidney-shaped) with 5-7 lobes.[1] It is andromonoecious (both bisexual and male flowers on same plant) with yellow flowers.[1]

Varieties

There are two major landraces of Korean melon, Sunghwan and Gotgam.[6] The Gotgam Korean melon has the aroma of a dried persimmon as reflected by its name.[6] These two landraces contain more nutrients and has greater disease resistance than other varieties.[6]

Cultural significance

South Korea National Treasure no. 94 and 114 both resemble the Korean melon in their design.[3][7]

Every year, the annual Yeoju Geumsa Oriental Melon Festival (여주 금사참외축제) is held, and visitors can sample the melons during the festival.[8]

There is a Korean Melon Ecology Center in Seongju County, designed to educate the public regarding the cultivation and other aspects of the fruit.[9]

Other uses

The Korean melon has also been used as cattle feed.[1]

In Korean folk medicine, the fruit has been used for acute gastritis, fever, mental disorders, dysuria, jaundice, alcoholism, and hyperesthesia/paralysis.[10] The apex has been used as an emetic and for hepatitis, constipation, syphilis, jaundice, and edema.[10] The leaves have been used for blisters and alopecia.[10] The seeds have been used for indigestion and cough.[10]

Research suggests that the hexane extract of the seeds could be used as a way to control type 2 diabetes.[11][12] When hexane was used to extract fatty acids, it was found to contain linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid.[11] The hexane extract was found to inhibit the enzymes alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase.[11][12] Theoretically, this could decrease the levels of blood sugars for patients with type 2 diabetes.[11][12]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Lim, T. K. (2012). "Cucumis melo (Makuwa Group)". Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. p. 219. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_34. ISBN 978-94-007-1763-3.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Boerman, Esther (7 February 2005). "All about melons". The Argus-Press (Owosso, Michigan). Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Oriental melon". Invil Central Council. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Kato, K.; Akashi, Y.; Tanaka, K.; Wako, T.; Masuda, M. (2001). "Genetic characterization of east and south Asian melons, Cucumis melo, by the analysis of molecular polymorphisms and morphological characters". Acta Hort. (ISHS) 588: 217–222.
  5. ↑ Kitamura, S. (1950). "Notes on Cucumis of Far East". Acta Phytotaxon Geobot 14: 41–44.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Park, Inkyu (2013). "Development of SSR markers by next-generation sequencing of Korean landraces of chamoe (Cucumis melo var. makuwa)". Molecular Biology Reports 40 (12): 6855–6862. doi:10.1007/s11033-013-2803-0.
  7. ↑ "Koreas Treasure No. 114". SkyNews (Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.). Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Yeoju Geumsa Oriental Melon Festival (여주 금사참외축제)". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Korean Melon Ecology Center". Invil Central Council. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Ji-Xian Guo; Takeatsu Kimura; Paul P. H. But; Chung Ki Sung (1 January 2001). International Collation of Traditional and Folk Medicine, Vol 4. World Scientific. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-981-281-035-9.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Chen, Lei (2013). "In vitro inhibitory effect of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seed on key enzyme linked to type 2 diabetes". Journal of Functional Foods 5 (2): 981–986. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2013.01.008.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Chen, Lei (2014). "Roasting processed oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seed influenced the triglyceride profile and the inhibitory potential against key enzymes relevant for hyperglycemia". Food Research International 56: 236–242. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2013.11.040.