AN OVERVIEW ON LAGENARIA SICERARIA (BOTTLE GOURD)

Abstract

Cucurbitaceae family is a major source of medicinal agents’ science ancient times. Various plants parts including fruits of this family have been established for their pharmacological effect. Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) standley (LS) is an annual herbaceous climbing plant Swith a long history of traditional medicinal uses in many countries, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Since ancient times the climber has been known for its curative properties, and has been utilized for treatment of various ailments, including jaundice, diabetes, ulcer, piles, colitis, insanity, hypertension, congestive cardiac failure (CCF), and skin diseases. Its fruit pulp is used both as an emetic and purgative, and for its cooling, diuretic, antibilious, and pectoral properties. Boiled in oil this pulp is used to treat rheumatism and insomnia. A wide range of chemical compounds including sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and saponins have been isolated from the species. Its extracts have been found to possess various pharmacological activities. Below, we give a comprehensive review of its ethnomedical uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacological profile as a medicinal plant. Particular attention is given to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, and antibacterial effects so that its potential uses in pharmaceutics can be better evaluated. The plant has also been suggested to possess antioxidant activity, laxative, cardioprotective, diuretic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, central nervous system stimulant, anthelmintic, antihypertensive, immunosuppressive analgesic, adaptogenic and free radical scavenging activity. The fruit is reported to contain the triterepenoide cucurbitacins B, D, G, H, two sterols viz., fucosterol and campesterol, aerpene byonolic acid (an allergic compound), flavone-C glycosides (a ribosome inactivating protein) and lagenin. Extract of the Lagenaria siceraria seeds show antibiotic activity. It has the highest content of choline among all the vegetables known to man till date, which serves as the precursor of neurotransmitter acetylcholine,   which in turn is crucial for retaining and enhancing memory.