Bitter Cucumber

Scientific name of Bitter Cucumber plant: Citrullus colocynthis

Name of Bitter Cucumber plant in different languages:-

English: Colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd

Sanskrit: Gavakshi, Indravaruni, Vishaghni, Peetpushpi, Varuni, Vishvalli, Suravanini, Sthanukarmi, Dhanushreni

Hindi: Indravalli

Malayalam: Pekkummatti പേക്കുമ്മട്ടി, Kattuvellari കാട്ടുവെള്ളരി

Plant description:

It  is an annual vine,  found in wild areas, in the warm, arid and sandy areas, up to 1500 m. an altitude. stems are trailing  herbaceous with rough hairs. Leaves are arranged alternately  on a long stalk, triangular shaped, rough, variously undulating, blunt and hairy, fine green. Flowers are yellow, singly at axils. Fruit are globose, yellow and smooth, in the inner part a white spongy pulp enclosing. seeds are ovate compressed, color white or brownish.

Useful plant parts:

Root, whole plant, fruit

Medicinal uses:

Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, breast cancer, wounds, Kapaha disorders, hemorrhoids, constipation, sciatica and joint disorders with stiffness etc.

Chemical content:

Cucurbitacin, glucosides

One of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like-

Maha Vishagarbha Taila

Rheumallin tablets

Mahatiktam kashayam

Astapatra Tailam

Keshamrith Tailam

Maha Vishagarbha Tailam

Abhayarishtam

Chavikasavam

Lodhrasavam

Shatavaryadi Ghrita

Learn more:

http://daru.tums.ac.ir/index.php/daru/article/view/275