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Family Cucurbitaceae

Upo
Lagenaria siceraria
BOTTLE GOURD, WHITE PUMPKIN
Hu-lu

Other scientific names Common names
Cucurbita siceraria  Buliangin (Sub.)
Cucurbita lagenaria  Kalubai (Bis.) 
Cucurbita lagenaria-oblonga  Labu (Sul.) 
Cucurbita lagenaria-oblonga Opo (Tag.) 
Cucurbita lagenaria-villosa  Sikai (Bis.) 
Cucurbita leucantha Tabungau (Bon., Ilk.)
Lagenaria vulgaris  Upo (Tag.)
Lagenaria leucantha  Gourd (Engl.) 
  Bottle gourd (Engl.)
  Hu-lu (Chin.)
  White pumpkin (Engl.) 

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.


Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Diuretic activity of Lagenaria siceraria fruit extracts in rats /
B V Ghule et al / Indian Journ of Pharma Sciences / Year : 2007 | Volume : 69 | Issue : 6 | Page : 817-819 / DOI: 10.4103/0250-474X.39441
(2)
Immunomodulatory effects of Lagenaria siceraria fruits in rats / Pharmacognosy Magazine / ISSN: 0973-1296 / Vol 4, Issue 16 (Suppl.), Oct-Dec, 2008
(3)
Antihyperlipidemic activity of isolated constituents from the fruits of Lagenaria siceraria in albino rats / Int J Green Pharm / Year : 2008 | Volume : 2 | Issue : 2 | Page : 104-107

(4)
Lagenaria siceraria - (Molina.)Standl / Bottle Gourd / Plants For A Future
(5)
Antihyperlipidemic effect of the methanolic extract from Lagenaria siceraria Stand. fruit in hyperlipidemic rats / B V Ghule et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology • Volume 124, Issue 2, 15 July 2009, Pages 333-337 / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.04.040
(6)
Hypolipidemic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) fruit extracts
/ B V Ghule et al / Indian Journ of Experimental Biology • Vol 44, Nov 2006, pp 905-909
(7)
In-vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Seed Extract of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina.) Standley Fruit / Thube Smita et al / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2009, 2(7),1194-1195
(8)
Antioxidant activity and HPTLC profile of Lagenaria siceraria fruits / P Erasto and Z H Mbwambo / Tanzania Journal of Health Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, April 2009
(9)
Beneficial effects of Lagenaria siceraria Standley fruit epicarp in animal models / Indian Journ of Experimental Biology • Vol 46, April 2008, pp 234-2423


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