Cucurbita pepo Health Dictionary

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Cucurbita Pepo: From 1 Different Sources

Linn.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Native to N. Mexico and eastern U.S.A. Now commonly cultivated in Northern India.

English: Pumpkin, Marrow.

Unani: Safed Kaddu, Kumhraa.

Siddha: Suraikayi (Tamil).

Action: See C. maxima.

Key application: Seeds—in irritated bladder condition, micturition problems of benign prostatic hyperplasia stages 1 and 2. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) In childhood enuresis noctruna. (Expanded Commission E.)

The roasted and fresh seeds yield 32.2 and 38.0% of fatty oil respectively. The oil filled capsules were administered to patients suffering from hypertrophy of the prostate. Results showed that the frequent urge to urinate decreased and the urine residues were minimized.

The oil consists of the glycerides of linoleic 45, oleic 25, palmitic and stearic acids 30%. Sterols have been isolated.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Cucurbita Maxima

Duchesne.

Habitat: Cultivated throughout India.

English: Red Gourd, Red Pumpkin.

Ayurvedic: Peeta Kuushmaanda, Kuushmaandaka, Kuusmaandi, Karkaaruka, Seetaaphal.

Unani: Kaddu-e-Sheerin, Aqteen.

Siddha/Tamil: Parangikayi.

Action: Fruit pulp—sedative, emollient and refrigerant; used as poultice, applied to burns, inflammations, boils, and burns. Seeds—diuretic, anthelmintic (for tapeworm). Because of their zinc content and antimitotic effect, seeds are used to arrest enlargement of prostate gland. Also used in cystitis and minor kidney dyfunction.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima and C. pepo) seeds contain B vitamins, Vitamin A; minerals—calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc; cucurbitacins; linonelic acid. An infusion of seeds (2-3 teaspoons) is taken as a diuretic and in hypertrophy of prostate.

Seeds of C. maxima contain sterol glycosides and sterol fatty acid esters which showed antitumour activity in mice.

The leaves contain calcium 36.38; magnesium 38.80; iron 2.04; zinc 0.76; and copper 0.42 (mg/100 g).

The seed oil contains sterols and tri- terpenoids. The oil is used in migraine and neuralgia.... cucurbita maxima

Cucurbita Moschata

Duch. ex Poir.

Habitat: Native to Central America. Cultivated in warmer climate than that required for C. maxima.

English: Squash.

Ayurvedic: Kumshmaanda.

Action: Fruit—used in headache, bronchitis, asthma; as diuretic in genitourinary disorders; as anthelmintic against tapeworms. Dried pulp is administered in haemptysis.

The lipids isolated from the seeds included glycerides, sterol esters, phos- phatidylcholine and phosphatidylinos- itol. The aqueous extract of seeds showed potent gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats.

In Chinese medicine, Cucurbita mo- schata flower is used in jaundice, dysentery and cough; the root in jaundice, strangury, galactostasis and dysentery; the stem in irregular menstruation and scalds.... cucurbita moschata

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