Sanskrit name: Alābu
Botanical name: Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.)
Family name: Cucurbitaceae
Identification No.: SDACH/HG/259
Vernacular names:
Hindi – Lauki, Ghiya
English – Bottle gourd
Tamil – Suraikkai
Telugu – Sorakaya
Bengali – Lau
Synonyms:
अलाबूः कथिता तुम्बी
Bhav Prakash: Shaka Varga
Habitat & Distribution:
Cultivated widely throughout India in kitchen gardens and farms. Found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Prefers warm climates and grows well during summer and monsoon.
Morphology:
Annual, fast-growing vine with soft hairy stems and broad, heart-shaped leaves. Large, white or yellow flowers. Fruits are green, smooth, bottle-shaped or oblong.
Varieties:
Various cultivars are identified by fruit shape and size – Bottle-shaped, Round, Long cylindrical types.
Phytochemicals:
Cucurbitacins, flavonoids, sterols, saponins, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, vitamins C and B-complex, choline
Raspanchaka:
Rasa – Madhura, Kashaya
Guna – Guru, Snigdha
Virya – Shita
Vipaka – Madhura
Prabhava – Pittahara, Shramahara
Dosha shamakta – Pitta-Vata shamak
Karma – Rogaghnata:
Jvaraghna, Daha-pachaka, Pittahara, Mutrakr̥cchrahara, Raktapittahara, Balya, Hr̥dya
Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses:
External – Fruit pulp applied on inflamed skin and burns
Internal – Used in urinary disorders, jaundice, acidity, general debility, heart disorders, and bleeding disorders
Part used: Fruit
Yoga/Formulations:
Alābu Swarasa
Alābu Saka
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Research updates:
- Ghule BV, Murugananthan G, Nakhat PD. Diuretic activity of Lagenaria siceraria fruit extract in rats. Indian J Pharm Sci.
- Shah BN, Seth AK. Review on medicinal use of Lagenaria siceraria. Pharmacogn Rev.
- Deshpande JR, Choudhari AB, Mishra MR. Hepatoprotective activity of Lagenaria siceraria fruit juice. Indian J Pharm Sci.
