English: Bitter Sponge Gourd, bitter luffa
Sanskrit: जीमूतः jimuta, Koshataki, Karkati
Hindi: घागरबेल ghagarbel, बिन्दाल bindaal, ककोड़ा kakora
Tamil: பேய்ப்பீர்க்கு pey-p-pirkku
Malayalam: Puttil peera, Mullan peechil
It is a climber vine spreading with tendrils, slightly hairy, spread over bushes and hedges. The leaves are kidney-shaped, simple, arranged alternately, 3 to 5-lobed, margin serrated, and pubescent. Flowers are white, or yellow, and found in axillary panicles. Fruits are spiny, ashy, slightly oblong, color yellowish, and contain many seeds, which id embedded in the pulp, and intensely bitter. Flowering is August-September.
Leaf Arrangement
Shape-Palmate | Margin-Entire | Venation-palmate |
Useful plant parts:
Fruits, Whole plant
Medicinal uses:
To treat sinusitis, bronchitis, Stomach disorders, colic, edema, epilepsy, inflammation, low BP, Stomach pain etc.
Medicinal properties:
Purgative, Antiseptic,
Chemical contents:
β-Sitosterol, oleanolic acid, cucurbitacin, saponin, echinatin, and flavonoids
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