Bangkok:Warnings circulating on social media about bitter-tasting cucumbers being dangerous and capable of causing liver failure have been found to be false.

According to Thai News Agency, the "Verify Before Sharing" center consulted with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jutiporn Tassakulapanich from Kasetsart University, who clarified that the warnings stem from a misunderstanding. The warnings mistakenly refer to the "bottle gourd" or "bitter gourd," rather than cucumbers commonly consumed.

Plants in the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers and bitter gourds, produce compounds called cucurbitacins that can cause bitterness. However, modern cucumbers have been bred to contain minimal amounts of these compounds, specifically cucurbitacin C, which is less toxic with an LC50 value of approximately 100 mg/kg compared to cucurbitacin B found in bitter gourds, which is more toxic.

The misconception about cucumbers' toxicity is also addressed by noting that a significant amount of consumption would be required to reach toxic levels, something unlikely due to the natural tendency to avoid eating bitter-tasting cucumbers. Additionally, the claim comparing cucumber toxicity to arsenic is deemed inaccurate, as arsenic is consumed in pure form, whereas cucumbers contain relatively small amounts of cucurbitacins.

For those concerned about bitterness, it is recommended to spit out any cucumber that tastes bitter and remove about one centimeter of the cucumber stem where cucurbitacins tend to accumulate. It is also advised to verify information before sharing it on social media to prevent unnecessary panic.