Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

672 Trichosanthes cordata Roxb.
T
Folk ◮ Mahkaar, Maakaal, Laal
Indraayana, Kondal.
Action ◮ Same as that of Citrullus
colocynthis. The fruits are poisonous.
The seed extract show
haemagglutinating activity. Fruit—
cathartic, antiasthmatic (the fruit
is smoked in asthma and lung diseases),
anti-inflammatory (used for
rheumatic affections, weakness of
limbs, dental diseases, hemicrania).
The root gave tetrahydroxypentacyclic
triterpenoid, trichotetrol. Cyclotrichosantol
and cycloeucalenol
have been isolated from the leaves.
Trichosanthes cordata Roxb.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Foot hills of the Himalayas
from Garhwal to Sikkim and in
north-eastern India, up to 500 m.
Ayurvedic ◮ Vidaari (var.), Bhuumikushmaanda,
Patola (related
species.).
Folk ◮ Bhui-kumhraa.
Action ◮ Tuber—dried powder given
in enlarged spleen and liver; applied
externally on leprous ulcers.
Used in prescriptions for haemorrhagic
diseases and in spermatopoietic
tonics. Aerial parts—diuretic.
The seeds yield 23.3% (dry basis)
a fatty oil containing 32.3% of punicic
acid.
Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Found throughout India
in scrub-jungles and waste places.
Ayurvedic ◮ Amritaphala, Vana-
Patota, Tikta-Patoli.
Siddha ◮ Kattu Pey Pudal.
Action ◮ Bitter fruits—blood
purifier (used in the treatment
of skin diseases); germicidal;
appetizer, laxative (used in bilious
disorders); hepatoprotective. Root
and seed—anthelmintic, antifebrile.
Whole plant—antipyretic. Root—
cathartic. Leaves—used externally
in alopecia.
Cucurbitacin B has been isolated
from the fruits.The root tuber contains
glycoproteins and beta-trichosanthin.
The leaves gave luteolin-7-glucoside,
kaempferol, 3,7-dirhamnoside and 3glucoside-7-rhamnoside,cucurbitacins
B and E, oleanolic acid, betasitosterol
and its D-glucoside. The
seed oil showed the presence of punicic
acid; oleic, linoleic, eleostearic,
palmitic, stearic and arachidic acids.
Meso-inositol was found to be present
in the plant.
Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Warmer regions of India,
particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Bihar,
West Bengal and Assam.
English ◮ Patol, Pointed Gourd.
Ayurvedic ◮ Patola, Kulaka, Raajiphala,
Karkashchhada, Karkasha,
Bijagarbha.
Unani ◮ Parwal.