CUCUMBER
Cucumber (
Cucumis sativus)
is characterized by an exceptional concentration of the
carotenoids lutein and its isomer zeaxanthin (383.0% of the Daily Value [DV] per 100 g),
vitamin K (phylloquinone) (13.7%), and significant mineral levels:
silicon (177.0% DV per 100 g),
silver (85.7%), and
cobalt (10.0%). It is further distinguished by its
phytosterol content, specifically
beta-sitosterol (26.0% DV).
Sucrose (0.1 g per 100 g) and
starch (0.1 g per 100 g) are present only in
trace amounts.
The total purine base content per 100 g constitutes 2.0% of the daily allowance.
The concentration of
oxalic acid per 100 g is negligible (1 mg), representing
0.3% of the maximum tolerable daily intake (for further details, see
Rhubarb).
Consequently, the pharmacological and nutritional value of cucumber is determined by high concentrations of the following bioactive compounds:
- Carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin): These xanthophylls accumulate within ocular tissues, providing essential photoprotection for the retina and supporting visual acuity;
- Beta-sitosterol: This phytosterol inhibits the enteral absorption of cholesterol, thereby reducing serum cholesterol levels. Due to its structural homology with cholesterol, it competitively binds with bile salts and fatty acids within the jejunum, facilitating the excretion of cholesterol and potentially mitigating androgenetic alopecia (hair loss) in males;
- The ultratrace element silver, which is relatively rare in botanical sources.
MINERAL ELEMENTS
Macroelements
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Potassium |
84.0-202.0 mg |
6% |
 |
| Calcium |
11.0-35.0 mg |
2% |
 |
| Silicon |
53 mg |
177% |
  |
| Magnesium |
6.22-14.0 mg |
3.5% |
|
| Sodium |
4.7-20.0 mg |
1% |
 |
| Sulfur |
0 mg |
0% |
|
| Phosphorus |
16.8-42.0 mg |
3.5% |
|
| Chlorine |
25 mg |
1% |
|
Microelements and ultramicroelements
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Aluminum |
425 µg |
1.1% |
|
| Boron |
1.5 µg |
2.1% |
|
| Vanadium |
No data |
|
|
| Iron |
0.09-0.60 mg |
3% |
|
| Iodine |
0.1-3.0 µg |
1% |
|
| Cobalt |
1 µg |
10% |
|
| Lithium |
No data |
|
|
| Manganese |
60.0-180.0 µg |
7% |
|
| Copper |
10.0-100.0 µg |
6% |
|
| Molybdenum |
1 µg |
1% |
|
| Nickel |
0.010-2.60 µg |
1% |
|
| Rubidium |
No data |
|
|
| Selenium |
0.3 µg |
0.5% |
|
| Silver |
6 µg |
85.7% |
 |
| Fluorine |
17 µg |
0.4% |
|
| Chromium |
1.7-6.0 µg |
8% |
|
| Zinc |
129-220 µg |
1.5% |
|
PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Total protein content |
0.5-0.9 g |
1% |
|
| Content of essential amino acids |
0.146-0.200 g |
0.8% |
|
| Content of non-essential amino acids |
0.306-0.460 g |
0.7% |
|
Essential amino acids
| Name of the acid |
Content, g per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Valine |
0.022-0.030 |
2% |
|
| Histidine |
0.008-0.010 |
1% |
|
| Isoleucine |
0.018-0.020 |
1% |
|
| Leucine |
0.028-0.030 |
1% |
|
| Lysine |
0.023-0.030 |
1% |
|
| Methionine |
0.009-0.010 |
0.6% |
|
| Threonine |
0.016-0.020 |
1% |
|
| Tryptophan |
0.005-0.010 |
3% |
|
| Phenylalanine |
0.017-0.040 |
1% |
|
Non-essential amino acids
| Name of the acid |
Content, g per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Alanine |
0.023-0.030 |
0.4% |
|
| Arginine |
0.028-0.050 |
0.7% |
|
| Aspartic acid |
0.040-0.050 |
0.4% |
|
| Glycine |
0.025-0.030 |
0.8% |
|
| Glutamic acid |
0.140-0.220 |
1.4% |
|
| Proline |
0.013-0.020 |
0.4% |
|
| Serine |
0.025-0.030 |
0.3% |
|
| Tyrosine |
0.010-0.020 |
0.5% |
|
| Cystine |
0.002-0.010 |
0.4% |
|
FATS AND FATTY ACIDS
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Total fat content |
0.1 g |
0.1% |
|
| Content of unsaturated fatty acids |
0.047 g |
0.1% |
|
| Content of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids |
0.021 g |
2.1% |
|
| Content of omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids |
0.023 g |
0.2% |
|
| Content of saturated fatty acids |
0.033 g |
0.1% |
|
Unsaturated fatty acids
| Name of the acid |
Content, g per 100 g of product |
| Palmitoleic C 16:1 (omega-7) |
0.0 g |
| Oleic C 18:1 (omega-9) |
0.003 g |
| Linoleic C 18:2 (omega-6) |
0.023 g |
| Linolenic C 18:3 (omega-3) |
0.021 g |
| Stearidonic C 18:4 (omega-3) |
0.0 g |
| Gadoleic C 20:1 (omega-11) |
0.0 g |
| Arachidonic C 20:4 (omega-6) |
0.0 g |
| Eicosapentaenoic C 20:5 (omega-3) |
0.0 g |
| Erucic C 22:1 (omega-9) |
0.0 g |
| Clupanodonic C 22:5 (omega-3) |
0.0 g |
| Docosahexaenoic C 22:6 (omega-3) |
0.0 g |
| Nervonic C 24:1 (omega-9) |
0.0 g |
Saturated fatty acids
| Name of the acid |
Content, g per 100 g of product |
| Myristic C 14:0 |
0.001 g |
| Palmitic C 16:0 |
0.029 g |
| Stearic C 18:0 |
0.003 g |
| Arachidic C 20:0 |
0.0 g |
| Behenic C 22:0 |
0.0 g |
| Lignoceric C 24:0 |
0.0 g |
Sterols
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Beta-sitosterol |
14 mg |
26% |
 |
| Cholesterol |
0.0 mg |
0% |
– |
CARBOHYDRATES
| Name |
Content, mass fraction per 100 g of product |
% of daily norm |
| in numbers |
visually |
| Total carbohydrate content |
1.0-3.5 g |
0.8% |
|
| Mono- and disaccharides |
2.4 g |
4.8% |
|
| Glucose |
0.31-1.30 g |
7.5% |
|
| Fructose |
0.71-1.10 g |
2.6% |
|
| Galactose |
0.0 g |
0% |
|
| Sucrose |
0.1 g |
– |
– |
| Lactose |
0.0 g |
0% |
|
| Starch |
0.1 g |
– |
– |
| Maltose |
0.0 g |
– |
– |
| Fiber |
0.5-1.1 g |
5% |
|
PURINE BASES
