Colocynth

Colocynth (Indravaruni, Bitter Apple) is a great herbal plant with many useful properties. It is also known as Citrullus colocynthis. Indravaruni belongs to the family of gourds and a relative of watermelon. It is the native of Africa and India. It is highly drought tolerant, hard, herbaceous vine.

This plant can grow annual or perennial. Their stems are irregular and rough to great extent. Leaves are very rough, 5 to 10 cm long, deep three to seven lobed with middle lobe and sinus in open form with triangular shape and many clefts. The upper surface of the leaves are great green but the lower part is somewhat pale The flowers are of yellow colour, solitary, peduncle, axillary, monoecious and corollas are 5-lobed. Their fruits are kind of pepo fruits that contain various seeds, a hard rind and other characteristics of gourd family. Their shape is globular, 4-10 cm in diameter with elliptical fissures. The small orange, green color of fruit becomes totally yellow when ripe. Now the fruit is with hard rind, light weight pulp, easily breakable, spongy and intensely bitter. Seeds are of very small size around 6 mm in length, various in number, oval, compressed and smooth. Seeds become dark brown to light yellow after they ripe. This plant has large roots with long, slender, tough and rough like stems which have tendency to climb over herbs

Classification

Habitat

This plant grows in warmer and tropical regions. It is native of Africa and also produce in Asia like in India, Pakistan and southern islands. It can tolerate annual temperature of 14.8 to 27.8 °C. The pH range in which it proliferates is 5.0 to 7.8.

This plant grows up to 1500 m above the sea level on sandy loam, sub desert soils and sandy sea coasts.

Countries where it is found are Mediterranean Europe, Cyprus, the Syrian Arab Republic, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and North Africa.

Vernacular Names

Ayurvedic Properties

Effects on Doshas

It is known to control Kapha and Pitta.

Medicinal Uses of Indravaruni (Bitter Apple)

HYPOGLYCEMIC

Extract of its roots show great effect in reduction of blood sugar level. Several active components present in this herb influence the insulin metabolism and this way show great positive activity in Type II diabetes.

CONSTIPATION

Fruit extracts of this herb possesses strong laxative properties as it strengthens the intestinal muscles and brings about defecation naturally therefore it is very helpful to cure constipation.

ANTICANDIDAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL

Root extracts of this plant extracts, helpful in management of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and more. All extracts mean extracts of leaves, fruits and seeds showed activity against all strains.

ANTIOXIDANT

This plant acts as very effective antioxidant. This plant has ability to scavenge free-radicals like hydroxyl radical, superoxide anions and singlet oxygen.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC

The immature fruits and seeds extracts show very important anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity.

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

The seeds of Citrullus colocynthis can lower the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in non- diabetic hyperlipidemic patients.

LARVICIDAL

This plant shows toxicity against the early fourth instar larvae of Culex mosquito and Aedes mosquito.

INHIBITORY ACTIVITY ON BREAST CANCER CELLS

It shows great effect on growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer cells.

PIMPLES

External use of root and fruit extracts juice help to cure pimples, acne and boils.

COLD AND COUGH

It is very helpful to cure cold and cough.

Parts used

Parts used are Roots and fruits.