Botanical Name : Coccinia indica W. & A.
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Introduction :
Latin name : Coccinia = cocci = berry, indica = indian.
Synonyms :
Bimbi, Tundi, Tundikaa, Tundikeri, Kunduru, Raktaphala, Piluparni, Dantchhadaa
Coccinia cordifolia Cogn.
Cephalandra indica Naud
Coccinia grandis Lin
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
Varieties : Two – bitter and sweet. The bitter variety is found in the wild and all its parts are bitter to taste. The sweet variety is used as a vegetable.
Morphology :
It is e perennial ascending creeper also known as kundaru, telakucha, tindora etc. Its stalk is pentangular, leaves triangular or pentangular, dentate; slightly twisted, 4 to 6 cms. in length and 7-8 cms. broad.
flowers – unisexual, white, large and in bunches.
Fruits -. unctuous, fleshy, tapering at both ends, initially green and red when ripe. The fruits are marked with 10 white stripes and have plenty of seeds.
Distribution & Habitat :
All over India, cultivated
Chemical constituents :
beta-amyrin, acetate, lupeol , cucurbitacin B.
Properties :
Guna: laghu, ruksha, tikshna ;
Rasa: katu, kashaya:
Virya: ushna:
Vipaka: katu
Prabhava: vamak and rechak:
Fruit
Rasa: madhur
Guna: guru
Virya:sheeta
Vipaka: madhur
Karma –
Stambanam, lekhanam, ruchyam
Carminative, antipyretic,Galactagogue, antispasmodic, expectorant, anti diabetic
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Kapha (removal by emesis), pitta (removal by purgation).
Dhatu: Rasa (emetic), rakta (purgative, jaundice, liver, kaphapitta shodhan), mansa. meda (diabetes).
Mala: Mutra (pyuria, diabetes).
Organ: Stomach
Indication :
Swasa, kasa, jwara, meha, rakta pitta
fever, skin disease, cough, piles, leucorrhoea,vomiting, dysentery,gout, jaundice
Part used : Whole plant
Dosage:
Leaf juice 10-15 ml
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
Use :
Application of the leaves reduces inflammation. Juice of the leaves cleanses wounds. Raw fruit is chewed in stomatitis, Since it is an appetizer, emetic, laxative and hepatic stimulant. it is used in anorexia, jaundice and other liver disorders, It reduces the diseases of blood caused by
kaphapitta. It is useful in cough and asthma as it is an expectorant. Juice of the roots in a dose of 10 ml. or root powder 3 to 6 gms. is useful in pyuria and diabetes, It is also useful in skin diseases and fever.
