*This plant is confused with the Calabash,
Crescentia Cujete, which is much larger
and grows on trees rather than on a
vine.
Overview
This plant has been known
and used in the New World for 15,000
years. Long vine-like annual to 30 feet
tall or more with short sticky hair
on stems. Leaves heart shaped to ovoid,
usually not lobed. White flowers bloom
in the evening. Fruit is smooth, hard
shelled when ripe. Many sizes and shapes
from 3" to 3' long. Globe shaped,
oblong, long cylindrical, bent, club
shaped, dumbbell shaped, crooked neck
Hollowed shells are used for containers
of all types: bottles, bowls, pipes
and musical instruments. For water,
these shells are preferred to more modern
containers since they keep the water
cool due to evaporation. Engraved and
decorated with gorgeous patterns often
using wood burning tools. See Wild and
Wonderful World of Gourds for illustrations.
Fruits may be mottled, striped, green
or tan. When they are young the fruit
are tender with white spongy flesh.
These are frequently cooked and eaten.
When mature, they become hard and the
pulp is dry and it contains many gray
or dark brown seeds.
Historical Uses
The fruit, leaves, oil and
seeds are edible. In Curacao a leaf
decoction is taken for flatulence. Decoctions
containing a combination of Langenaria
Siceraria and Rivina Humilis are given
for gas in pregnancy. In combination
with garlic, a decoction is taken for
gas pain in the heart area. Leaves with
salt or coconut oil are often used as
poultices for mange, skin irritation
and tumors. A poultice of the crushed
leaves has been applied to the head
to treat headaches. Pulverized seed
kernels are taken to expel intestinal
worms. The seeds are also eaten as a
remedy for headache. The seed is vermifuge.
A poultice of the boiled seeds has been
used in the treatment of boils. Taken
with Achyranthes spp the seed is used
to treat aching teeth and gums, boils
etc. Pulp applied externally. The stem
bark and the rind of the fruit are diuretic.
The fruit is antilithic, diuretic, emetic
and refrigerant. Juice taken for flatulence
and urinary infection. Antibiotic; Antidote;
Diuretic; Emetic; Febrifuge; Lithontripic;
Odontalgic; Poultice; Purgative; Vermifuge.
The flowers are an antidote to poison.
Extracts of the plant have shown antibiotic
activity. In many parts of China 3 grams
per day of this species (the report
does not say what part of the plant)
has been used as a single treatment
for diabetes mellitus.
Distribution
Thought to be native to
old world tropics: Africa and India.
Now found in South America. Commonly
cultivated South and Central America
and in many other parts of the world.
Active Ingredients
Leaves contain steroidal
sapogenins. Lagenin a novel ribosome
inactivating protein with rhiboneuclealytic
activity. Cucurbitacin D with antitumor,
insectifuge, and cytotoxic activity,
Cucurbitacin B with antihepatotoxic,
anti-inflammatory, antitumore, cancer
prevention, cytotoxic, insectifuge and
insectiphile activity
Proven Scientific Evidence
Antihelmintic activity.
Antihepatotoxic in animal studies.
Dosage Information
no information available
Toxicities
The pulp of ripe fruits
is dangerously purgative! Other toxicities
are not clear. Minced leaves demonstrated
hepatatoxicity in animal studies. Fruits
and leaves in doses of 1-5g/kg/day can
cause DEATH in animals. Not a regular
occurrence. Seeds are less toxic. Plant
reduces ability of liver to synthesize
protein, no interference with excretion
of bilirubin. Kidney dysfunction and
hemoconcentration also occurred. Poisondex
says no toxic ingestions have been recorded
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L, Enda-Caribe, Universidad de Antioquía.
Hacia Una Farmacopea Caribeña
: Investigacion Cientifica y Uso Popular
De Plantas Medicinales En El Caribe.
Santo Domingo; Enda-Caribo: Republica
Dominicana; UAG & Universidad de
Antioquia; 1995.
2. Morton J, F. Atlas of Medicinal
Plants of Middle America : Bahamas
to Yucatan. Springfield IL: Charles
C. Thomas; 1981.
3. Moerman D. Native American Ethnobotany:
A database of native american foods,
drugs, dyes, and fibers of native
american peoples derived from plants.
Available at: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/.
Accessed January 25, 2004.
4. Duke JA, Ayensu ES. Medicinal
Plants of China. Vol 2. 1st ed. Algonac,
Michigan: Reference Publications;
1985.
6. Duke J, A. Dr. Duke's Phytochemical
and Ethnobotanical Database. http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/
.Accessed 01/19, 2004.
7. Elisha E, Twaij H, Ali N. The
anthelmintic activity of some iraqi
plants of the curcurbitaceae. International
Journal of Crude Drug Research. 1987;25:153-157.
8. Shirwaikar A, Sreenivasan K. Chemical
investigation and antihepatotoxic
activity of the fruits of lagenaria
siceraria. Indian Journal of Pharmceutical
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