Coccinia grandis/Kundru Or Kudli

November 21st, 2007

Common Names
Cucurbitaceae (koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ay) - The Cucurbita (gourd) family.
Coccinia (kok-SIN-ee-uh) - Red; often spelled coccinea.
grandis (GRAN-dees) - Large, spectacular. Ivy Gourd, Gentlemanâ€™s Toes, Scarlet gourd, Scarlet-fruited gourd, Kowai fruit (English)
Bimbi, Bimbika, Jivaka, Patuparni, Vimba, Vira (Sanskrit)
Bimb, Bimba, Kanduri, Kanturi, Kundree, Kundru (Hindi)
Kotturukanni, Kovai, Kovaikkay, Naripputu, Rattakkovai, Tirattikkovai, Vattakkovai, Velikkovai, Vimpa, Vimpakam, Vimpi,

Vimpikai (Tamil)
Kova, Koval (Malayalam)
Kaagethonde , Konde ball , Theekkuduru, Thonde balli, Thundike (Kannada)
Tondli (Marathi)
Donda kaya, Kaki donda (Telugu)
Telakucha (Bengali)
Ban-kundri (Oriya)

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Cucurbitales

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Genus: Coccinia

Species: C. grandis

Habitat: India, Pakisthan, Burma, Bangla Desh, Sri Lanka

Description:
Coccinia grandis, also called tindora (tindori, tindoori), giloda, kundri, kundru, kowai, kovai, tindla, gentleman’s toes (compare lady’s fingers), tendli, thendli, thainli , ivy gourd or little gourd, is a tropical vine grown for its small edible fruits. They may be eaten immature and green, or mature and deep red. The young shoots and leaves may also be eaten as greens.

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Older botanical sources may call this plant C. cordifolia.The fruit is eaten in Indian cuisine.
In Andhra Pradesh (South India), this vegetable is known as “Dondakaya”. It is eaten as a curry either by deep frying it, stuffing it with masala and frying or boiling it first in a cooker and then frying it. It is also used in “Sambaar”

It is widely grown in Assam and Tripura. Plants are slender and much branched climber. Flowers are dioecious, solitary in the leaf axils, rather large and long peduncled. Various parts of the plants are used in the indigenous system of medicine in both Ayurvedic and Unani practice. The plant is reported to reduce the amount of sugar in the urine and improve the general metabolism of patients suffering from diabetes. Some parts of the plants particularly the leaves and roots are used by the Ayurvedic and Unani practitioners in the treatment of conditions similar to diabetics when insulin treatment has failed. The cooked leaves are used externally in eruptions of the skin and also mixed with ghee are applied as ointment to sores. Boiled in ginger oil, they are applied externally in the treatment of ring worm, psoriasis, itch, etc. Tender fruits are used as vegetable and recommended for fever patient.

Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is a tropical plant in the pumpkin family grown for its small edible fruits. They may be eaten immature and green, or mature and deep red. The young shoots and leaves may also be eaten as greens. Ivy gourd is an aggressive climbing vine that can spread quickly over trees, shrubs, fences and other supports. It is an outdoor plant but prefers a sunny sheltered position and a sandy soil. Being a perennial plant, it can spread vegetatively or by seed.

The stem is a herbaceous climber or perennial slender climber with occasional adventitious roots forming where the stem runs along the ground. The tendrils are long, elastic with coil-like springy character that can wrap around the host to the entire length. The leaves are classified as palmately simple with five lobes while the shape varies from the heart to pentagon form.

The size of the leaves is approximately 5 10 cm in width and length. The flower is large and white about 4 cm in diameter and contains five long tubular petals. The ivy gourd fruit belongs to the berry type: oval and hairless with thick and sticky skin. The raw fruit is green in colour and turns bright red when it is ripe. The mature fruit is usually from 25 to 60 mm long by 15-35 mm in diameter and contains several pale, flattened seeds.

Kutu....is Pungent… it is wild variety but Madhu is sweet it is cultivated and is used in the preparation of medicine.

Chemical Constituents: Its roots contains resin and some alkaloids,starch, glucose,gum, fatty acids, carbonic acids and ash that constitutes 16%. Besids these it contains minerals like calcium,iron and phosphorus.

Medicinal Importance & Use:

It is a good wound healer and reduces any kind of inflations occuring in the body.It is good appitizer and helps to improve digestion.It is a very good laxative and stimulates liver for proper secretion of bile juices.It is also used in wormal infestation specially in amoebiasis caused by entamoeba hystolitica.It purifies blood. It helps in expelling extra amount of mucus accumulated in the respiratory tract.It is very widly used in diabetis as it controles the glucose level in the blood.It also helps to open the pores of the skin for proper secretion of sweat by which we expels out the body toxins.

Kundru (Coccinia grandis) is well known vegetable crop in India. Its green fruits are eaten as vegetable and juice from leaves and roots is used for diabetes. Through the interactions with the female herb collectors of Saraipali region,

The roots can be used as male aphrodisiac. During intercourse the fresh roots are kept inside the mouth and the juice is allowed to go inside. This use delays the ejaculation. The female herb collectors further informed that very few natives are aware of this unique use. But the traders are aware of this unique use. This is the reason, during cropping season, many troubles ask for fresh roots. The herb collectors are aware that the collection of roots can destroy the whole herb because roots are collected when crop is at vegetative stage. You will be surprised to known that many herb collectors grow this herb in home gardens for its useful roots. The traditional healers of this region were not aware of this unique use. Later, they tried and confirmed its promising effects.

Kevatch (Mucuna pruriens) is used in same manner. Afeem (Opium) is also used but the use of Afeem has many minus points. The female herb collectors of Saraipali region informed that as Kundru is undercultivation through chemical farming, the roots collected from the commercial farms are not suitable for this purpose. Many senior herb collectors dip the Kundru roots overnight in rice water and next morning give it to their male partners. According to them, this dipping eliminates the harmful properties of Kundru roots. Like the natives of other parts of Chhattisgarh, the female herb collectors of this region are also aware of use of medicinal insect Gubraila (Dung beetle) in case of Scorpion sting. They simply collect the Gubraila and crush it. The crushed Gubraila is applied on affected portion as treatment. This is considered as promising first aid measure. The female herb collectors prepare a special herbal combination by mixing all parts i.e. roots, leaves, flowers and bark, Jason

(Hibiscus rosasinensis) and used it in treatment of mental depression. All parts are collected and dried in shade. After drying all parts are mixed in equal proportion. This combination is boiled in cow milk and patients are suggested to take the milk internally. According to the herb collectors, this long term use gives promising results. Jason is well known herb of religious and medicinal importance. It is planted as ornamental herb in home gardens. The female herb collectors informed that the monkeys (Bendra) are fond of Bambri Gond (Acacia nilotica gum). They eat it with taste. The name of Bambri Gond is present in the list of medicinal herbs and herb parts, the female herb collectors collect for commercial trade. According to them, the monkeys are their rival as they eat away the Gum. The female herb collectors are aware of its medicinal properties and uses. After frying it with cow ghee they consume it with taste. According to them, its internal use develops a natural resistance inside the human body to fight against all the diseases. Its one time use in any season helps in maintaining good health round the year. Bambri is well known tree in Chhattisgarh. The female herb collectors having the problem of chronic constipation prepare a special decoction by boiling Bambri leaves in water. This decoction is taken internally at night. Its regular use cures the trouble effectively in very less time. Its popularity among them clearly indicates its efficacy.The leaves are used to get rid of any kind of eczema.

Click to read Kundru can lower blood sugar: Experts

Many of the above mentioned traditional medicinal uses like the use of Kundru roots, are unique and need scientific attention. The important observation is that the female herb collectors are still having deep faith in traditional knowledge.

Toxity: No Toxic effect was seen on human body on the consumption of the vegetable

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider

Resources:
http://www.ayushveda.com/herbs/coccinia-indica.htm
http://sliceoftheday.wordpress.com/category/vegetables/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_gourd
http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/articles/_1067.html

http://gbpihed.gov.in/envis/HTML/vol13_1/nrai.htm