(L.) Cogn.Synonym: Cucumis maderaspatana Linn.Bryonia scabrella Linn. f. Mukia scabrella (Linn. f.) Arn.Family: Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat: Throughout India, ascending up to 1,800 m in the hills.
Ayurvedic: Ahilekhana, Trikoshaki.Siddha/Tamil: Musumsukkai.Folk: Agmaki.Action: Tender shoots—gentle aperient, diuretic, stomachic; decoction used in biliousness and flatulence.
The root contains columbin; seed oil gave linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids. Fresh aerial parts exhibit potent anti- hepatotoxic activity.In carbon tetrachloride-induced liver dysfunction in albino rats, the recovery of liver, treated with the extract from aerial parts, was significant and there was marked decrease in serum levels of the enzymes, alanine, aminotransferase, aspartate amino- transferase and alkaline phosphatase.Kuruvikizhangu of Siddha medicine, used for acute diarrhoea and fever, is equated with Malothria per- pusilla (Blume) Cogn. Zehneria hook- eriana Arn., found in upper Gangetic plain from Nepal to Assam and in Peninsular India.
Health Encyclopedia