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Watermelon has Viagra-like effect, researchers say

Read ArticleArticle Source: The Seattle Times
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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.

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1.3
{"commentId":2119616,"authorDomain":"freed"}

Watermelons for the 4th "fireworks"

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  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 6:11 PM EDT
{"commentId":2122095,"authorDomain":"freed"}

seems to work :)

{"commentId":2122095,"threadId":"306296","contentId":"1639550","authorDomain":"freed"}
    #1.1 - Sat Jul 5, 2008 9:30 AM EDT
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    {"commentId":2119892,"authorDomain":"gpolya"}

    Interesting report. Citrulline is converted to the amino acid arginine via the "urea cycle" that enables us to remove excess nitrogen as urea; citrulline is also the product of the reaction catalyzed by Nitric oxide (NO) synthase that speeds up the reaction arginine + O2 + NADPH -> citrulline + NADP+ + NO.

    NO promotes dilation of blood vessels. Viagra increases levels of a compound called cyclic GMP (by inhibiting cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase which degrades cyclic GMP) and so does NO (by activating soluble guanylate cyclase which makes cyclic GMP). Cyclic GMP activates a specific protein kinase (PKG) which in turn catalyzes the phosphorylation of specific proteins with an end result of increased muscle relaxation, blood vessel dilation and ultimately penile erection (see: Chapter 7: Biochemical targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds

    {"commentId":2119892,"threadId":"306296","contentId":"1639550","authorDomain":"gpolya"}
      Reply#2 - Fri Jul 4, 2008 7:14 PM EDT
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