Schrad is a valuable plants from cucurbitaceae family, widely distributed in the barren region, is a nonhardy, herbaceous perennial vine, branched from the base 4. This plant contains cucurbitacins a, b, c, and d, aelaterin, and probably other constituents. The bitter apple is a vinelike plant commonly found in asia and the mediterranean basin. Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry.
The present study reveals the medicinal uses, chemical compositions and examines recent investigations on the therapeutic activities of extracts and chemicals identified from citrullus colocynthis. Pdf medicinal utility of melon citrullus colocynthis l. There have been reports of death following ingestion of just 112. Bitter apple common names bitter apple trees are also known by a host of common. Antimycobacterial activity of citrullus colocynthis l. The fruit pulp of colocynth has medicinal properties while the seeds. The plant has small, pale greenish yellow flowers, forked tendrils, and. Ethnobotanical studies of citrullus colocynthis has been carried out by many workers as given in table 1. Taking even very small amounts of colocynth can cause severe irritation of the stomach and intestine lining, bloody diarrhea, kidney damage, bloody urine, and inability to urinate. Citrullus colocynthis fruits are usually recognized for its wide range of medicinal uses as well as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential. It was banned by the food and drug administration in 1991 taking even very small amounts of colocynth can cause severe irritation of the stomach and intestine lining, bloody diarrhea, kidney damage, bloody urine, and inability to urinate.
Department of plant biology and plant biotechnology, st. The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. Citrullus colocynthis citrullus colocynthis cucurbitaceae, locally known as sherry or handal, is used in folk medicine in rural areas as a purgative, ant rheumatic, and a remedy for skin infections. Medicinal uses of different parts of citrullus colocynthis. Citrullus colocynthis as the cause of acute rectorrhagia. Citrullus colocynthis, with many common names including colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, citation needed egusi, vine of sodom, or wild gourd, is a desert viny plant native to the mediterranean basin and asia, especially turkey especially in regions such as izmir, and nubia it resembles a common watermelon vine, but bears small, hard fruits with a bitter pulp. Citrullus colocynthis medicinal benefits talk to your pharmacist for more details. Xaviers college, palayamkottai, tamil nadu 627 002. How bitter apple is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. Phytochemical analysis of a folklore medicinal plant citrullus colocynthis l bitter apple c. The stems are herbaceous and beset with rough hairs. Its botanical name is citrullus colocynthis and it belongs to cucurbitacae family. This plant tends to control kapha and pitta doshas. Citrullus colocynthis supplement health benefits, dosage.
Schrader, among the plants growing in the egyptoarabian 4. Introduction world health organization survey indicated that about 7080% of the worlds population rely on nonconventional medicine, mainly of herbal sources, in their primary healthcare. Medicinal the dried, unripe fruit pulp constitutes the drug colocynth, which is a very strong laxative. Egusi seed is botanically known as citrullus colocynthis curcurbita citrullus l. Chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of citrullus. However therapeutic applications and adverse effects of c. Chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of. Colocynth citrullus colocynthis uses, dosage, side effects. Citrullus colocynthis l is a common annual wild plant, procumbent herb with simple tendrils. Autecological studies on citrullus colocynthis species in. The colocynth grows in sandy, coastal, or desert soils and commonly spreads vegetatively.
Colocynth, citrullus colocynthis, hairystemmed perennial vine of the gourd family cucurbitaceae, native to the mediterranean region. Journal of medicinal plants studies ethnobotanical studies of. Four patients with colocynth intoxication are presented. Ancient and recent medicinal uses of cucurbitaceae family shweta s.
Bitter apple scientific name the scientific name for this plant is citrullus colocynthis. Iranian medicine tim and is used alone or in compounds for many medicinal purposes. In traditional folklore, medicinal herbs play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of microbial diseases. Colocynthis, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, colocynth. It is known by various names such as bitter cucumber, pumpkin seeds, egusi melon, vine of sodom plant, wild gourd, bitter apple, colocynth or desert gourd. Sekar abstract phytochemical screening of citrullus colocynthis belonging to the family cucurbitaceae was carried out for finding its medicinal values. Citrullus colocynthis is a very droughttolerant medicinal species, closely related to watermelon c. Citrullus colocynthis fruits are generally documented for its broad range of pharmaceutical uses as well as medicinal and. Citrullus colocynthis is a rich source of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, sterols, saponins, steroids, terpenes and flavonoids prepared in different solvents has been reported by various workers sultan et al. The fruit pulp of colocynth has medicinal properties while the seeds have nutritive qualities. A downloadable pdf document of a book in prepublication awaiting. E is known to be found profoundly in citrullus colocynthis.
Citrullus colocynthis an overview sciencedirect topics. It is very good for all kinds of painful conditions including. Descriptionthe colocynth collected from the maritime plain between the mountains of palestine and the mediterranean, is mainly shipped from jaffa and known as turkish colocynth. C and its natural variants are not determined well. Studies on antimicrobial efficiency of citrullus colocynthis l. C have been used traditionally in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Issn phytochemical analysis of a folklore medicinal plant. The benefits, dosage and side effects of citrullus colocynthis. Citrullus colocynthis has a number of interesting names like indrayan hindi, bitter apple, vine of sodom, and desert gourd. However, much information on the use of tumba as traditional medicines has not been documented from many rural areas of karauli dausa and jaipur districts. Citrullus colocynthis fruits are usually recognized for its wide received in revised form range of medicinal uses as well as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical. A qualitative analysis was performed for the identification of. The article also presents some of the functions of the chemicals present and attempt to emphasize and create an awareness of the great potential of citrullus colocynthis as a source of novel.
When the fruit is ripe its pulp dries to form a powder used as a bitter medicine and drastic purgative. Citrullus colocynthis, also known as bitter cucumber, is a fruitbearing plant sometimes used medicinally citrullus colocynthis is used to treat diabetes, since it may be able to induce insulin secretion from the pancreas after supplementation, while reducing blood glucose and improving lipid levels preliminary evidence suggests a topical application of citrullus colocynthis may stimulate. Uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients in bitter apple. The bitter taste and the powerful medicinal virtues of the pulp are due to the presence of a probably amorphous glucosid colocynthin, first identified and named by meissner and by vauquelin 1818, and later. Uses dried pulp of unripe fruit is used medicinally for its drastic purgative and hydragogue cathartic action on the intestinal tract.
Effects of alkaloid rich extract of citrullus colocynthis. This is a dangerously powerful plant that has been found to work as a medicine in ayurveda as well as homeopathy. It was always known as a toxic gourd but was turned to as a food in desperate times. Bioactivities of traditional medicinal plants in alexandria. It was banned by the food and drug administration fda in 1991. Many have been under taken on laboratory animals to. The species is monoecious individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant. The leading symptoms of the remedy include a tendency to pentup emotions, especially anger, restlessness with pain and an aversion to talking, answering or having much contact with people at all. This powder is so inflammable that the arabs collect it to use as kindling. Names of bitter apple in various languages of the world are also given. Homeopathy a homeopathic remedy used for colic, neuralgia caused by suppressed emotions, gastric pain, headaches accompanied by nausea and. Bitter apple herb uses, benefits, cures, side effects. Citrullus colocynthis medicinal benefits citrullus.
Flowers are in small flowers are in small with yellow color and the fruit is. In the present study, the phenolic profiles of the medicinal plants asparagus aethiopicus l. The current work investigates the effects of pulp and seed extract of c. Acute toxicity study on citrullus colocynthis fruit. Other side effects include convulsions, paralysis, and death. Colocynthis homaccord fda prescribing information, side. Effects of alkaloid rich extract of citrullus colocynthis fruits on artemia salina and human cancerous mcf7 and hepg2 cells aniruddha mukherjee, savita d patil abstract in the present research the anticancer effect of alkaloid rich extract of citrullus colocynthis fruits. Colocynth indravaruni, bitter apple is a great herbal plant with many useful properties. Citrullus colocynthis, pharmacology, constituent, pharmacognosy i. Physicochemical properties of citrullus colocynthis seed oil.
866 144 461 984 583 801 608 211 204 353 17 920 335 953 1296 789 1073 499 1389 938 599 54 317 198 1377 63 895 330 1182 691 1460 757 1169 383 173 1407 698 1110 1067 652