Citrulline: Watermelon Compound That Gives Viagra-Like Effects?

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics , Food and Agriculture on July 6, 2008

Here's an interesting report by scientists in Texas: a slice of cool, fresh watermelon has effects similar to Viagra (Sildafenil Citrate). Of course, that isn't really a substitute for the said drug to keep a man going all night long. Well, I guess...unless one has to eat a truckload of watermelons. Then you'd say better take the blue pill.


© MoToMo



Anyways...the interesting finding here is the compound in watermelon that gives such effects, called citrulline.

Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.

Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.

According to Bhimu Patil, a researcher and director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center:

"Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.

Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects."

Yeah, I always suspected that watermelons must be good for our body. Think heart and circulatory benefits, okay? ;-)