ASSESSMENT OF FOOD, ETHNOBOTANICAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF TRICHOSANTHES CUCUMIRINA L.
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research . (2014). 5(7). (Accepted) PRAKASH KUMAR TRIPATHY, SANJEET KUMAR AND PADAN KUMAR JENA sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com Trichosanthes cucumirina L., locally known as “Chachindra” among the tribal and rural mass of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) forest. Plant parts are used as ethnomedicine among inhabitants of SBR. They use the fruits, leaves and roots against various diseases and traditional practices are continuing since long. Leaves are used against microbial infections, roots against diabetic and fruits against killing of stomach worm. Young fruits are used as vegetables as well as medicine. Keeping this traditional practice in view, assessment of food values and antibacterial properties were done. Fruits are rich with carbohydrate (26.24 %), lipid (2.20 %), protein (1.50 %), fiber (1.96 %) and good amount of moisture. Plant parts showed diverse bioactive compounds such as tannin, saponin, and flavonoid