Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary

182 Cucumis sativus Linn.
C
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Wild on wastelands of
Sindh, Baluchistan, Rajasthan; in
dry districts of Bellary in the South.
English ◮ Wild Cucumber.
Ayurvedic ◮ Indravarruni (var.).
Folk ◮ Khar-indraayana.
Action ◮ Emetic, purgative. Toxic.
Fruit pulp—a bitter resinous body,
myriocarpin, produces nausea and is
slightly purgative.
The fruit contain cucurbitacin B,C,D
and Q1, and propheterosterol and its
acetate. Cucurbitacin Q1 is an antitumour
agent. Amino acids from the
fruits are leucine, iso-leucine, phenylalanine,
valine, tryptophan, tyrosine,
proline, alanine threonine, glycine,
arginine, crystine and aspartic acid.
Cucumis sativus Linn.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat ◮ Cultivated for its edible
fruits which are usually used as
salad vegetable.
English ◮ Cucumber.
Ayurvedic ◮ Trapusha, Traapusha,
Trapushi, Tiktakarkatikaa (bitter
var.).
Unani ◮ Khiyaar, Khiraa.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vellarikkai.
Folk ◮ Khiraa.
Action ◮ Seed—used in dysuria,
irritation of the urinary tract,
cystitis. Reduces specific gravity of
urine. Also used for tapeworms.
Cucumber contains rutin; seeds glucosides
including cucurbitaside; leaves
free cucurbitasides B & C, ferredoxin,
alpha-spinasterol. Free and bound
sterols are found in seedlings and in
male and female flowers.
Presence of proteolytic enzymes,
ascorbic acid oxidase and succinic and
malic dehydrogenases has been reported.
Dosage ◮ Seed—3–6 g powder; fruit
juice—25–50 ml. (CCRAS.)
Cucumis trigonus Roxb.
Synonym ◮ C. pseudo-colocynthis
Royle.
C.callosus (Rottl.) Congn.
Bryonia callosa Rottl.
Habitat ◮ Wild throughout the drier
upland tracts of India.
Ayurvedic ◮ Indravaaruni (var.).
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Kattutumatti.
Folk ◮ Vishlumbha, Bhakuraa.
Action ◮ Pulp of fruit—drastic
purgative. Decoction of roots—
milder in purgative action. Seeds—
cooling, astringent; useful in bilious
disorders. The fruit is used as
a substitute for Colocynth.
The fruits contain steroid and triterpenoid
compounds, cucurbitacin
B and proteolytic enzymes. EtOH
extract exhibits analgesic and antiinflammatory
activity; stimulates isolated
uterus of guinea pigs.
Cucurbita maxima Duchesne.
Family ◮ Cucurbitaceae.