It is noted that bitter tasting Citrullus lanatus is toxic, containing cucurbitacin E (elaterinide), but ones which are not bitter do not contian this chemical and provide food and water for bushmen in the Kalahari desert. Symptoms of poisoning resemble strychnine.

Neuwinger, HD. (1996). African Ethnobotany: Poisons & Drugs, Chapman & Hall p.395

Toxic due to content of highly irritant cucurbitacins.

Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Cultivated since the time of the Assyrians.

Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book, ed.2, Cambridge University Press p.160

In the Arabian peninsula, the leaves, seeds, roots and dried fruits are used to treat dog, insect and snake bites, as a laxative and to relieve pain in joints.

Ghazanfar, S.A. (1994). Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. CRC Press, Florida. p.91

In Yemen the seeds, which are also used as a purgative, are mixed with other food to reduce its strong laxative action. For severe constipation, a mixture of Citrullus's pulp is mixed with honey and hilba (Trigonella foenum-gracum). A poultice is made from crushed leaves and garlic and is applied on bites and stings. Powdered leaves are mixed with water and drunk as a laxative; crushed roots are mixed with goats milk and used as a purgative to treat colic.

Ghazanfar, S.A. (1994). Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. CRC Press, Florida. p.91

Physician, philosopher, collector, and polymath, Sir Thomas Browne, says in his notebook: 'Bitter apple (Citrullus colocynthis), a widely cultivated plant of the gourd family … furnishing the well-known purgative drug.’ From Sloan MS 1861 in which Browne gives a long list of the seeds sown in his garden in 1667.

A rodent control since the times of Columella.

Mabberley, D.J. (1997) The Plant Book, ed.2, Cambridge University Press p.160

Seeds crushed with water are used as shampoo to darken hair colour.

Ghazanfar, S.A. (1994). Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. CRC Press, Florida. p.91

Components of the dried pulp of fruit include cucurbitacin B and E, I and L in the stems, leaves and roots (both free and in the form of a glycoside). This constituents have been shown to possess tumour-necrosing activity. The glycoside, colocynthin, consists of elaterin (cucurbitacin E and cucurbatacin I). This shows strong purgative properties.

Ghazanfar, S.A. (1994). Handbook of Arabian Medicinal Plants. CRC Press, Florida. p.91

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