Ethnobotanical values of wild Cucurbits

Sanjeet Kumar

sanjeet.biotech@gmail.com

The cucurbitaceae have cultural and economic values among many wild societies of the world. Numerous studies have been developed in the taxonomy, ethnobotany, economic values, medicinal properties and pharmacological values and domestication of the species of this family but very less or few scientific documentation was done on wild species. Wild species have very sound traditional therapeutic values and abundant in the forest edges. They are mostly found in and around of the rural and tribal villages. Tribal communities use mostly their fruits for healing. They used the parts of wild cucurbits as juice, paste, and other formulations. Rout et al. (2013) reported the ethnobotanical values of M. charantia used by the local inhabitants of Koraput district of Odisha. Murthy et al. (2013) reported the traditional medicinal systems of some wild cucurbits from the Eastern Ghats of Odisha. Mallik et al. (2012) documented the therapeutic values of C. grandis leaf to cure cough & cold and M. charantia fruits is used to enhance the appetite of domestic animals. Shadangi et al. (2005) documented that Trichosanthus species is used to cure ear problems. Panda et al. (2011) reported that C. grandis is used to cure jaundice and M. diocea is used in diabetes. Mohanty et al. (2013) reported that the raw fruits of C. grandis are eaten to reduce cough.  Now-a-days the knowledge are going to decline on wild cucurbits, therefore present study highlights the ethnobotanical values gathering the information/ claims from literature and documented in the Table.

Table: Ethno-botanical values of selected wild cucurbits

Plant Name	Parts	Uses	Sources
Cucumis melo	Seeds	Seeds are diuretic promotes the production of urine	Murthy et al. (2013)
C. melo	Leaves	Used to treat the skin infection	Khalid et al. (2010)
C. melo	Fruits	Used in stomach ache	Maryam et al. (2011)
C. melo	Leaves	Used to treat the skin infection	Khalid et al. (2010)
C. melo	Fruits	Used in stomach ache	Maryam arshad et al. (2011)
Diplocyclos palmatus	Leaves	Paste and juice is used for the treatment of scorpion bite, used against fever. Leaf juice is given for fever.	Murthy et al. (2013)
D. palmatus	Fruits	Skin infection	Joanne et al. (2012)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Seed extract is taken during dysentery	Kamble  et al. (2008)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Powder of seeds and roots is given twice a day in empty stomach to induce fertility.	Gupta et el. (2010)
D. palmatus	Leaves	Leaf paste is mixed with fruit powder in equal quantities is taken with a cup of local wine prepared by Madhuca indica flowers at morning without any food for three months to cure hysteria.	Neelima et al. (2011)
D. palmatus	Leaves	Leaves are used against inflammation	Chopra et al. (1956)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Used in asthma, cholera and promotes fertility in women	Sing et al. (2012)
D. palmatus	Leaf	Paste is applied externally to reduce rheumatic pain	Subramanyam et al. (2008)
D. palmatus	Leaf	Used in burning and diarrhoea	Radha et al. (2012)
D. palmatus	Fruits	Used in hysteria and Jaundice	Radha et al.  (2012)
D. palmatus	Fruits	Used as health tonic and for indigestion	Arun  et al. (2011)
D. palmatus	Seed	Powder in quarter spoon is administrated with milk to break sterility.	Padal et al. (2013)
D. palmatus	Leaves	Young leaves are used in joint pain	Sasi et al. (2011)
D. palmatus	Fruits	Fruits are used to reduce fever	Padal et al. (2010)
D. palmatus	Leaf	Leaves are used for fertility	Padal et al. (2010)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Seeds of shivlingi , sonth, kalimirch, putrajivi and root bark of vat is made in powder. 2-5 gm of powder is taken with water or milk at night. Once daily for 21 days. After completion or beginning of menstrual cycle.	Srivastava  (2013)
D. palmatus	Roots	Roots are used in teeth decay	Padal et al. (2013)
D. palmatus	Leaf	Paste is applied externally on join to cure pain in the morning once in three days for one month.	Karunyal et al. (2010)
D. palmatus	Seed	Seed powder is put in water and ½ cup full of water is taken, seed powder mixed in ½ cup milk is taken by women.	Kamblet et al. (2011)
D. palmatus	Leaves	Paste and juice is used for the treatment of scorpion bite, used against fever. Leaf juice is given for fever.	Murthy et al. (2013)
D. palmatus	Fruits	Skin infection	Joanne et al. (2012)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Seed extract is taken during dysentery	Kamble  et al. (2008)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Powder of seeds and roots is given twice a day in empty stomach to induce fertility.	Gupta et al.  (2010)
D. palmatus	Seeds	Seeds are given to women for conception	Patel et al. (2013)
D. palmatus	Leaves	Used in colic , fever, paralysis of tongue, piles	Patel et al. (2013)
Trichosanthes cucumerina	Fruits	Fruits are used against stomach worm	Murthy et al. (2013)
T.cucumerina	Leaves	Used in snake bite	Jain et al. (2008)
T.cucumerina	Root	Used to reduce colic pain	Jain et al. (2008)
T.cucumerina	Seed	Seed powder mixed with jiggery and alcohol (dabar) is given for the treatment of asthma	Sudeep et al. (2011)
T.tricuspidata	Roots	Used against skin infections	Murthy et al. (2013)
T.tricuspidata	Leaf	Juice of leaves extract applied to relieve joint pain	Bharatha et al. (2010)
T.tricuspidata	Leaves	Used in ear pain	Padal et al. (2010)
T.tricuspidata	Root	Used against snake bite	Shreekar et al. (2010)
T.tricuspidata	Fruits	Fruits is smoked in asthma	Jadhav et al.  (2011)
T.tricuspidata	Fruits	Used in asthma and ear pain	Ganeshan et al. (2006)
T.tricuspidata	Root	Roots and stems are powdered and taken with hot water twice a day for the treatment of dysentery by Nyshi tribe	Srivastava  et al. (2010)
T.tricuspidata	Flowers	Used for blood related problems. Flowers are taken during night once in 2 days for one month	Karanyalet et al.  (2010)
T.tricuspidata	Seed	Seed powder mixed with water is given once a day for conjugative 5 days after manse.	Kamble et al.  (2011)