Abstract

THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA PLANT (POINTED GOURD) – A REVIEW

Ananya Vyas*, Bhartendu Sharma and Sheetal Sharma

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Abstract

Trichosanthes dioica, also referred as "Sespadula" in English and "Parwal" in Hindi, is found abundantly throughout India. T. dioica leaf juice is used as a febrifuge, tonic in alopecia, and in subacute liver enlargement instances. Leaf and fruit remedies for drunkenness and jaundice are mentioned in the Charaka Samhita. The immature fruits are eaten fried and as dorma with roe stuffing, as well as used as a vegetable in soup, stew, curry, and sweet dishes. Apart from the fruits, other parts of the plant, such as the leaves and tender shoots, have been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. When shade-dried fruits were mixed in the food of nondiabetic animals, specific medicinal properties such as hypocholesterolemic, hypoglyceridimic were discovered. Its seeds and leaves have recently been discovered to be anti-diabetic agents. Numerous pharmaceutical studies have scientific research on several T. dioica components, but some other historically significant therapeutic uses are also up till now scientifically unproven. The plant can be used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hypolipidemic, cardiotonic, diuretic, ulcer-preventive, antidiabetic etc. The plant shows good antioxidant activity. The different chemical components that are present in the plant are vitamin A, vitamin C, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, peptides, tetra and pentacyclic triterpenes, etc. The present review describes about the various parts of plant which can be used for the research, different phytochemicals present in the plant and pharmacological activity of the plant.

Keywords: Trichosanthes dioica, Cucurbitaceae, Hepatoprotective, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.