Watermelon vine is a nutritionally comprehensive and versatile plant that is considered an excellent green food and nutritious vegetable. After the fruit ripens, it can be used as medicine and has the effect of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi. Let's learn more about the effectiveness and function of watermelon vine!
1. Medicinal Use
Watermelon vine, including the whole plant and the fruit, can be used as medicine. It is characterized as "sweet and moderate", not only having the effect of benefiting qi and promoting lactation, but also having the functions of clearing heat and reducing fire, relieving thirst, and reducing inflammation. In addition, it can also be used to help treat lung diseases.
The collection and processing of watermelon vine are also quite simple. It can be harvested in summer and autumn. After washing, it can be cut into sections and dried before use.
2. Feed
As we all know, in desert areas where grass is sparse, there may be a shortage of feed. However, in desert or semi-desert areas, there happens to be a large amount of this plant growing, so it is a potential feed source.
In fact, because the stems of watermelon vine are relatively slender and have a low degree of lignification, meaning they are soft in texture, it can be considered as a medium to high-quality feed, very suitable for livestock consumption. Many animals can feed on it, such as goats, camels, and sheep.
3. Food Ingredient
The young fruits of watermelon vine can be eaten directly, and they contain abundant nutrients. For example, its protein content is much higher than many other plants, and the content of ash and other nutrients is also high. Additionally, the calcium content is higher than that of regular crops.
What's worth mentioning is that not only does it have a high protein content, but the quality of the protein is also excellent.
4. Economic Value
The whole watermelon vine contains 1.5% rubber and 3.6% resin, which makes it a good industrial raw material. Therefore, cultivating it can bring considerable economic benefits. In fact, this has become an important reason why many people grow it.
