Sweet Gourd

Scientific name of Sweet Gourd: Momordica cochinchinensis

Names in different languages:-

English: Gac

Sanskrit: Karkkataka, Karavella, Jalaja

Hindi: Karelaa

Malayalam: മുള്ളൻ പാവൽ, മധുരപ്പാവൽ, വെൺപാവൽ

Tamil: Tholu pavai

Plant description:

It is an annual climber vine, woody, thick stems, length up to 20 meters, the leaves are large, heart-shaped, the flowers are large, creamy to pale yellow and single, the fruits are ovoid, large and dark green, up to 20 cm long, and weigh up to 1.5 kilograms, peripheral with smooth thorns, yellow turned orange when it ripe, the seeds are black in color and flat. The leaves, flowers, and seeds are edible can consume as a vegetable.

Useful plant parts:

Fruits, leaves, flowers, tuberous root and seeds

Medicinal uses:

To treat Ulcers, lumbago, fractures, bronchial asthma and bleeding piles

Chemical contents:

Carotenoids, lycopene, Alpha-tocopherol, Saponins, mormodica and oleanolic acid

Medicinal Properties:

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiseptic, and  astringent.

It is one of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like:-