Herb's Introduction
Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour., a member of the Cucurbitaceae family (the gourd or squash family), is a significant medicinal vine with a long history of use in various traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Unani, and Thai traditional medicine. It is commonly referred to by names like Redball Snakegourd or Bitter Snake-gourd. This plant is recognized for its potent therapeutic properties, primarily due to the presence of chemical constituents such as cucurbitacins and triterpenes. Historically, different parts of the plant, including the fruits, seeds, and roots, have been utilized for treating a wide array of ailments, ranging from inflammatory conditions and skin issues to gastrointestinal problems and infectious diseases. It thrives particularly well in tropical and subtropical regions.
Name in Different Countries
Scientific Name/Synonyms: Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour., Trichosanthes palmata Roxb., Modecca bracteata Lam., Trichosanthes bracteata (Lam.) Voigt, Trichosanthes pubera Blume. Common/English: Redball Snakegourd, Bitter Snake-gourd. Chinese: 三尖栝楼 (san jian gua lou), 大抱瓜蒌 (Da bao gua lou - medicinal name). Hindi: महाकाल (Mahakal), इन्द्रायन (Indrayan). Nepali: इन्द्रेनि (Indreni). Sanskrit: काकनासा (Kakanasa), श्वेतपुष्पी (Shvetpushpi), महाकालः (Mahakala). Tamil: அன்கொரட்டை (Ankorattai), குறட்டை (kurattai). Telugu: అవ్వపండు (avvapandu), కాకిదొండ (kakidonda). Marathi: कौंडल (Kaundal), कवंडळ (kavandal). Gujarati: રતનઇંદ્રાયન (Ratanindrayan), ઇંદ્રવારણું (indravaranu). Malayalam: കയ്പ്പന് പടവലം (kayppan padavalam). Kannada: ಕಾಗೆಮರಿ ಬಳ್ಳಿ (Kagemari Balli), ಹಾವು ಮೆಕ್ಕೆಕಾಯಿ (haavu mekkekaayi). Thai: แตงโมป่า (Dtaeng moh bpàa), ขี้กาแดง (Khi ka daeng), ลูกขี้กา (Lôok kêe gaa). Vietnamese: Cứt quạ lớn, Lâu xác.
Terminology
The name Indrayan (or Indreni in Nepali) is one of the most common vernacular terms for this plant in the Indian subcontinent. The botanical family is Cucurbitaceae, which generally includes climbing herbaceous plants and shrubs often producing gourds. The names "Bitter Snake-gourd" and "Redball Snakegourd" are descriptive, alluding to the bitterness of the fruit and its mature spherical, red appearance, contrasting with the long, cylindrical fruit of the common snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina). Kakanasa (Sanskrit) literally means "crow's nose," possibly referring to the shape of a part of the fruit or seed. The medicinal properties are largely attributed to the class of compounds called cucurbitacins, which are triterpene derivatives known for their intense bitterness and potent biological activities, including cytotoxic effects.
Availability
T. tricuspidata is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. It is a perennial, climbing vine found in countries including Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In regions like Nepal, it is recognized as a significant component of the local flora and traditional medicine, often growing wild in various climatic zones. Its availability in traditional medicine markets is sustained by both wild harvesting and, potentially, localized cultivation efforts, as its medicinal roots and fruits are highly valued.
External Look
T. tricuspidata is a large, perennial, tendril-bearing climbing vine. Leaves: They are palmately lobed, usually with three deep lobes (hence tricuspidata). Flowers: The flowers are typically white and distinctively fringed at the margins. The plant is often dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants). Fruit: This is the most striking part. It is a large, globose (spherical) berry, turning a bright red or orange-red when fully ripe, often with three distinct partitions inside. The size can range from that of a small orange to a tennis ball. Root: The plant possesses a tuberous, thick root, which is also medicinally important.
Healing Properties
The plant exhibits a variety of healing properties, which are often concentrated in its fruits and roots, owing to its rich content of cucurbitacins and other compounds: Anti-inflammatory: Used traditionally to lessen inflammation, particularly in cases of rheumatism and migraines. Purgative/Laxative: The fruits and seeds act as a strong purgative, relieving constipation. Carminative: Used to relieve flatulence and colic. Anthelmintic: Used to expel parasitic worms. Antipyretic: Used in Thai traditional medicine as an anti-fever remedy. Antimicrobial/Wound Healing: Applied externally on wounds, ulcers, boils, and skin eruptions. Potential Anticancer/Cytotoxic: Fruit extracts show cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines (KB cells), suggesting potential antitumor properties from compounds like tricuspidatin and cucurbitacins. Pain-relieving (Analgesic): Oil extracted from the roots is used as a pain killer for conditions like headaches.
Advantages
The primary advantages of using T. tricuspidata stem from its diverse therapeutic applications and the concentration of potent bioactive compounds. Broad Spectrum Traditional Use: It is effective in multiple traditional systems for treating vastly different conditions, from respiratory issues (asthma, bronchitis) and nervous system disorders (epilepsy, migraines) to gastrointestinal problems and skin diseases. High Cucurbitacin Content: The roots contain significantly higher levels of cucurbitacin B, isocucurbitacin B, and other related compounds compared to related species, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy, especially for anti-inflammatory and potentially cytotoxic effects. Local Availability in Nepal and Asia: Being a native plant in regions like Nepal, it offers a readily available and economically accessible option for local traditional healthcare practitioners (Vaidyas).
Uses
Different parts of the plant are used for specific treatments: Part Used Traditional Uses System/Region Fruits Treatment of asthma, earache, ozoena (intranasal crusting), carminative, purgative, abortifacient, inflammation, migraines, opthalmia, leprosy, epilepsy, rheumatism, stomatitis. Ayurvedic, Unani Fruit Pulp Mixed with oil and applied to the head to cure headache, applied on wounds, ulcers, and boils. Traditional Seeds Emetic, purgative, paste for hoof and mouth disease in cattle. Traditional Roots Pain killer (oil extract), lung diseases in cattle, diabetic carbuncles, headaches, and for curing bleeding in chickens (Nepal). Traditional, Unani Leaves Paste applied to boils (Malaysia), sap drunk to stop diarrhea (Indonesia). Traditional (SE Asia) Whole Plant Juice Applied externally for skin eruptions, used for curing snakebite poisoning. Traditional (India) Export to Sheets
Using Way
The preparation and application methods vary widely depending on the desired effect and the traditional system: External Application (Topical): Oil Preparation: Fruit pulp is boiled in oil (e.g., Brassica oil) and applied to the scalp for headaches or directly to skin lesions like wounds, ulcers, and boils. Paste: Leaves or seeds are ground into a paste and applied to boils or for veterinary use on hoof and mouth disease. Juice/Extract: Fresh plant juice is applied to skin eruptions or for snakebite treatment. Internal Use (Oral): Decoctions/Formulations: Fruits or root extracts are prepared as decoctions or incorporated into complex Ayurvedic and Unani formulations to be taken internally for issues like asthma, digestive complaints (carminative, purgative), fever, and rheumatism. The Vaidyas use the fruits for treating stomatitis. Fresh Sap: The sap squeezed from fresh leaves is reportedly consumed to stop diarrhea in Indonesia.
Conclusion
Trichosanthes tricuspidata is a truly multifunctional medicinal plant, deeply integrated into the traditional pharmacopeia of Asia, especially in the context of the Medicinal Plants of Nepal and the Indian subcontinent. Its efficacy in treating a remarkable range of conditions—from severe illnesses like leprosy and epilepsy to common ailments like headaches and inflammation—is largely validated by the isolation of powerful compounds, particularly the highly bioactive cucurbitacins. While traditional uses have centuries of empirical support, modern scientific investigation confirms its cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and purgative potential. This plant represents a valuable, yet potent, natural resource that continues to be a subject of interest for drug development, especially given the need for further research to fully understand and safely harness the power of its concentrated phytochemicals.
