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Botany
Coarse vine reaching a length
of several meters. Leaves are rounded, 10-40 cm wide, slightly
hairy on both sides, 5-angled or lobed. Flowers, white, large,
solitary. Petals are ovate, 3-4 cm long. Calyx is green, mottled
gray or white, usually club-shaped or ovoid or depressed-globose,
as thick as it is long.
Distribution
Cultivated throughout the Philippines.
Parts
utilized
Pulp, fruit, shoots, leaves,
seeds.
Chemical constituents
and properties
Fruit is a good source
of iron, calcium, and phosphorus, vitamin B.
Fruit is 6% sugar; the seeds contain a fixed oil and saponin.
Fruit considered antibiotic, antidote, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic, cardioprotective, diuretic, febrifuge, lithotriptic, poultice, purgative, vermifuge.
Study
isolated a new withanolide
Uses
Folkloric
Young shoots and leaves used for enema.
Pulp used as purgative adjunct; also used for coughs, asthma, and poison
antidote.
Poultice of pulp applied to the head in delirium; to the soles for burning
feet.
Oil from seed applied externally for headaches.
Seeds also used as antihelminthic.
Juice of fruit used for stomach acidity, indigestion and ulcers.
Poultice of seeds used for boils.
In China, used for diabetes.
Nutrition
A common table vegetable.
The dry shell of the fruit used for utensils, bowls, pipes, horns or
musical instruments.
Pulp is common ingredient in many confections.
Studies
• Diuretic:
Study of the juice extract and methanol extract of LS showed
significantly significant diuretic potential, comparable to that of
furosemide.
• Immunomodulatory: Study of the methanolic extracts of the fruit of LS showed significant
dose-dependent delayed hypersensitivity reaction in rats with increase
in white cell and lymphocyte count. Results suggest a promising immunomodulatory
activity.
• Antihyperlipidemic: (1) Study of fruit extract of L siceraria significantly reduced the
total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides and suggests a potential household
remedy for hyperlipidemia. (2) Study of methanolic extract of L siceraria demonstrated an antihyperlipidemic potential with significant elevation of HDl cholesterol. Results also provided a valid scientific basis for consumption for the treatment of coronary heart diseases in India.
• Phytochemicals / Antihyperlipidemic: Study revealed the presence of flavonoids, sterols, cucurbitacin saponins, polyphenolics, proteins and carbohydrates. Results marked hypolipidemic and antihyperlipidemic activity of the extracts.
• Anthelmintic: In a study using Pheretima posthuma as test worms, the methanol and benzene extracts significantly demonstrated paralysis and death of worms, compared to a standard of Piperazine. Results confirm the tradtional use of the seeds of the plant as an antihelmintic.
• Antioxidant: Results showed that fresh fruit extract exhibited higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than other samples. Both fresh and dried fruits may give relatively similar antioxidant effects. • Antioxidant / Biologic Activities: Extract was found effective as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihyperlipidemic and cardiotonic. The various biologic activities may be due to the radical scavenging capacity of L siceraria.
Availability
Cultivated. |
