Trichosanthes cucumerina L.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Synonym: Trichosanthes anguina L.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Chichinga (Bengali), Koinda (Noakhali).

Tribal name:  Horinkan shak, Faranga ludi, Khoinda (Chakma); Derul (Lushai); Faranga ludi (Marma); Mring-bawn (Rakhaing).

English name: Snake gourd.

Description of the plant:  An annual, climbing herb. Stem slender, branches, angular, puberulous. Tendrils 2-3 fid.Leaves cordate, suborbicular or orbicular-reniform, membranous, more or less deeply 5-(rarely 3-7) lobed.Male flowers in axillary racemes with 5-15 cm long peduncle; female flowers axillary, solitary; flowers white. Fruit varies in size; young fruit is green striped with white.

Plant parts used: Leaf, stem, fruit, root, seed.

Herbal uses: Fresh juice extracted from fruits of the plant and mixed with honey, then the mixture is taken thrice a day (15 ml amount each time) until the bronchitis is cured.

Leaves and stems of the plant areused for the treatment of bilious disorders and skin diseases.

Roots of the plant areused for expelling worms.

A fresh juice extracted from the fruits of the plant is taken once a day (5 ml amount) for seven days to treat asthma.

Seeds have been sued as remedy for dysentery, cough.

Fresh juice extracted from the fruits of the plant is taken everyday (10 ml amount) until the itching is cured.

Rootsof the plant are used as remedy for diabetes, skin swellings like’s boils. 

Distribution: The species is cultivated throughout the country.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….