Herb's Introduction
Trichosanthes palmata (Roxb.) is a vigorous perennial climbing vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes gourds and pumpkins. It is a highly valued medicinal plant across various traditional systems of medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. The plant is often synonymized with Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour., and its medicinal significance lies primarily in its various parts, including the roots, fruits, and seeds, which are rich in bioactive compounds like cucurbitacins and triterpenoids. Due to its extensive traditional use, the plant's potential for anti-inflammatory, purgative, and other therapeutic effects has been the subject of modern research.
Name in Different Countries
Scientific Name: Trichosanthes palmata Roxb. Synonyms: Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour., Modecca bracteata Lam., Trichosanthes bracteata (Lam.) Voigt, Trichosanthes pubera Blume. Common Name (English): Redball Snake Gourd, Bitter Snake-gourd. India (Hindi): Mahakal, इन्द्रायन (Indrayan). Nepal (Nepali): इन्द्रेनि (Indreni). Sanskrit: Kakanasa, श्वेतपुष्पी (Shvetpushpi), Mahakala. Chinese: 三尖栝楼 (san jian gua lou), Da bao gua lou (medicinal name). Tamil: Ankorattai, குறட்டை (Kurattai). Telugu: Avaduta, అవ్వపండు (avvapandu), కాకిదొండ (Kakidonda). Gujarati: Ratanindrayan, ઇંદ્રવારણું (indravaranu). Kannada: Avaguda-hannu, Kagemari Balli, ಹಾವು ಮೆಕ್ಕೆಕಾಯಿ (haavu mekkekaayi). Malayalam: Kakkattonti, കയ്പ്പന് പടവലം (kayppan padavalam). Marathi: कौंडल (Kaundal), कवंडळ (Kavandal).
Terminology
The plant's common names, such as "Bitter Snake-gourd" or "Indrayan," often allude to its characteristic bitter taste and its familial relationship to other gourds (Cucurbitaceae). Indrayan (Hindi): A common name suggesting a traditional association with its medicinal properties, though the precise etymology is often varied. Kakanasa (Sanskrit): Literally means "Crow's nose," likely a descriptive term for the shape or appearance of some plant part, possibly the fruit or seeds. Family: Cucurbitaceae: This is the plant family it belongs to, known for its climbing habit and often large, fleshy fruits. Chemical Constituents: Key terms associated with its medicinal action are cucurbitacins (a class of triterpenoids known for their intense bitterness and cytotoxicity/anti-cancer potential) and trichotetrol (a tetrahydroxy pentacyclic triterpene isolated from the root).
Availability
Geographical Distribution: Trichosanthes palmata is widely distributed across Southeast Asia, ranging from the Eastern Himalayas (including Nepal and India) and Southern China, through Southern Japan and Malaysia, to tropical Australia. Habitat: It is a climbing plant typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, often at elevations ranging from about 1,200 to 2,300 meters, thriving in forests and scrubland. Commercial Availability: The various parts of the plant, especially the fruits and roots, are collected from the wild or sometimes cultivated for use in Ayurvedic, Unani, and local folk medicine systems. In Nepal, its roots are documented for specific local ethnomedicinal use, indicating its presence and availability within the country's diverse flora.
External Look
Habit: It's a large, vigorous, woody tendril climber that can grow to a height of 5 to 20 meters. Stem: The stem is robust, woody towards the base, and has 3-cleft tendrils for climbing support. Leaves: The leaves are variable, typically large, with a cordate (heart-shaped) base, and palmately divided into three to five distinct lobes, giving it the species name palmata (or tricuspidata for the three-lobed version). The margins are serrate or dentate. Flowers: The flowers are unisexual (male and female flowers separate), large, and striking, with a white corolla whose petals are distinctively wedge-shaped and fringed with beautiful hair-like structures. Fruit: The fruit is a succulent, nearly globular gourd that is about 5-8 cm in diameter. It has a hard rind, starting green and developing ten orange streaks before ripening to a bright redball color. Seeds: The seeds inside the fruit are emetic and purgative.
Healing Properties
The plant possesses a wide array of therapeutic properties attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites like cucurbitacins, saponins, and flavonoids. Anti-inflammatory: Extracts, particularly from the root, have shown promise in reducing inflammation. The fruit is used traditionally to lessen inflammation. Purgative/Laxative: The fruits and seeds are known to be potent purgatives (causing vigorous bowel evacuation) and laxatives. The seeds are also emetic (inducing vomiting). Anthelmintic: Traditionally used and scientifically investigated for its ability to expel intestinal worms. Anti-fever (Antipyretic): Used in Thai traditional medicine and elsewhere as a remedy for fever. Anti-diabetic: Root extracts have been traditionally used to lower blood sugar levels and treat diabetic carbuncles. Anti-cancer/Cytotoxic: Fruit extracts contain compounds like tricuspidatin and 2-O-glucocucurbitacin J that exhibit cytotoxic activity against certain cancer cell lines (KB cells). Analgesic (Pain-killer): Oil extracted from the roots is used externally as a pain killer for headaches and rheumatism. Antioxidant and Antimicrobial: Various extracts of the leaf and fruit show significant antioxidant and antibacterial/antifungal activities against several pathogens.
Advantages
The key advantages of T. palmata are rooted in its multi-faceted traditional applications and powerful chemical profile: Versatile Traditional Medicine: It is utilized in major traditional systems (Ayurveda, Unani, Thai) for a broad spectrum of conditions, from common ailments like headaches and fevers to more serious issues like asthma, epilepsy, and leprosy. Source of Potent Bioactive Compounds: The high concentration of cucurbitacins in the roots and fruits makes it a potent source for developing natural products, especially those with purgative, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer effects. Ethnoveterinary Use: Its application extends beyond human medicine, being used for treating conditions in cattle (lung diseases, hoof and mouth disease) and chickens (bleeding in Nepal). Local Accessibility in Asia: As a native climber in many regions, including Nepal and India, it is an accessible resource for local communities and traditional healers.
Uses
The uses of Trichosanthes palmata are extensive and involve almost all parts of the plant: Fruits: Treating asthma, earache, and ozoena (intranasal atrophy). Acting as a carminative (relieves flatulence), a purgative, and an abortifacient (traditional use). Curing migraines, reducing inflammation, treating ophthalmia (eye inflammation), leprosy, epilepsy, and rheumatism. Used in treating stomatitis (mouth inflammation). Roots: Used for treating fevers, headaches, and diabetic carbuncles. Oil from the root is used as a pain killer. In Nepal, the roots are used to cure bleeding in chickens. Used in cattle to treat lung diseases. Seeds: Used as an emetic (causes vomiting) and a strong purgative. The warm seed oil is traditionally applied to change white hair to black. Paste is applied for hoof and mouth disease in cattle. Leaves/Plant Juice: A paste is applied to boils (Malaysia). Sap is drunk to stop diarrhea (Indonesia). Juice is applied externally for skin eruptions and used for curing snakebite poisoning.
Using way
The methods of preparation and application vary depending on the plant part and the ailment being treated: External Application (Paste/Oil): For Headaches/Skin Conditions: Fruit pulp is boiled in Brassica oil (mustard oil) and applied as a liniment or balm on the head for headaches, or applied directly to wounds, ulcers, boils, and skin eruptions. Leaf or root paste is also used topically for skin issues and gonorrhoea. For Pain Relief: Oil extracted from the roots is applied externally as a pain killer. Internal Consumption (Extracts/Decoctions): As a Purgative/Laxative: Fruits or seeds are consumed, often as a dried powder or a prepared decoction, due to their strong purgative and emetic properties. Caution is essential as the plant is potent and can be toxic in high doses. For Systemic Ailments (Asthma, Fever): Prepared extracts, powders, or decoctions of the fruit or other parts are ingested, following the guidance of traditional practitioners (Vaidyas in Ayurveda, Unani hakims, or local healers). Root juice is also used to lower glucose levels.
Conclusion
Trichosanthes palmata (or T. tricuspidata), known by common names like Indrayan and Redball Snake Gourd, is a vital and potent medicinal climber in the flora of Asia, particularly in Nepal and India. Its widespread use in Ayurveda, Unani, and various folk traditions underscores its importance as a versatile herbal remedy. The plant's therapeutic efficacy spans treatments for migraines, inflammation, fever, digestive issues (as a strong purgative), and even anti-cancer potential, all linked to its rich profile of bioactive molecules, most notably the bitter cucurbitacins. While its traditional applications are extensive, caution is paramount due to its powerful purgative nature and potential toxicity. Modern research continues to validate many of its historical uses, pointing to its continued relevance as a source for novel pharmaceutical agents. It remains a key component of the indigenous medical practices in the regions where it grows.
