DISTRIBUTION AND ANCIENT-RECENT MEDICINAL USES OF TRICHOSANTHES SPECIES

Abstract

India, with its great biodiversity about 15% out of the 20,000 medicinal plants of the world , has a tremendous potential and advantage in the emerging field of herbal medicines . Medicinal plants are the main sources of chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. A lot of compounds were characterized from plants which are now using in the treatment of many diseases. The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of many diseases is associated with folk medicine from different parts of the world. Naturally occurring compounds from plants, fungi and microbes are still used in pharmaceutical preparations in pure or extracted forms about three hundred species are used by 7800 medicinal drug manufacturing units in India which consume about 2000 tons of herbs annually. There are estimated to be more than 717,319 registered practitioners of ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathy in India and in recent years, the growing demand for herbal products has led to the extinction of many important herbs because the drugs have no or very less side effect. In many useful plants species one is Trichosanthes species is a little-exploited species with immense medicinal potential. Considering its importance, more research is necessitated to explore the potential of this species.

Full text

International Journal of Phytopharmacy Review Article
Vol. 2 (4), pp.91-97, Jul-Aug 2012
©Scholar Science Journals
DISTRIBUTION AND ANCIENT-RECENT MEDICINAL USES OF
TRICHOSANTHES SPECIES
Saboo Shweta S
1
, Thorat Priyanka
1
, Tapadiya Ganesh G
2
, Khadabadi S S
1
1
Department of Pharmacognosy, Govt. College of Pharmacy, Aurangabad, India
2
R. C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Shirpur, India
Corresponding Author: shweta.saboo1@gmail.com
Abstract
India, with its great biodiversity about 15% out of the 20,000 medicinal plants of the world, has a
tremendous potential and advantage in the emerging field of herbal medicines. Medicinal plants are
the main sources of chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects. A lot of compounds were
characterized from plants which are now using in the treatment of many diseases. The use of
medicinal plants for the treatment of many diseases is associated with folk medicine from different
parts of the world. Naturally occurring compounds from plants, fungi and microbes are still used in
pharmaceutical preparations in pure or extracted forms about three hundred species are used by 7800
medicinal drug manufacturing units in India which consume about 2000 tons of herbs annually. There
are estimated to be more than 717,319 registered practitioners of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and
Homeopathy in India in the recent years, the growing demand for herbal products has led to the
extinction of many important herbs because the drugs have no or very less side effect. In many useful
plants species one is Trichosanthes species is a little-exploited species with immense medicinal
potential. Considering its importance, research is necessitated to explore the potential of this species.
Keywords: Trichosanthes cucumerina, Trichosanthes kirilowii, Trichosanthes villosa, Trichosanthes
tricuspidata, medicinal plant, trichosanthin
1. Introduction
“According to the WHO, herbal medicine is the most lucrative type of traditional medicine which
generates billions of dollars in terms of revenue annually. The WHO states that, traditional medicine
can treat various infectious and chronic conditions: new anti-malarial drugs were developed from the
discovery of chinchona, a plant used in China for almost 2000 years”
1.
It is estimated that at least 25% of all modern medicines are derived, either directly or indirectly, from
medicinal plants, primarily through the application of modern technology to traditional knowledge
2
.
The demand of medicinal plants is increasing day by day in both developing as well as developed
countries as a result of recognition of the non-narcotic nature, lack of side effects and easily
availability of many herbal drugs. Most often the medicinal plants are collected from the wild. The
therapeutic potential of various herbal plants have need to be explore for its medicinal use. In this
present paper we have attempted to briefly summarize the information available on the potency of
Trichosanthes species because of its immense medicinal potential
3
.
2. Present status of herbs in market
Between 70% and 95% of citizens in a majority of developing countries, especially those in Asia,
Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, use traditional medicine, including traditional and herbal
medicines for the management of health and as primary health care to address their health-care needs.
In some industrialized nations, use of traditional medication is equally significant; Canada, France,
Germany and Italy for instance, report that between 70% and 90% of their populations have used
traditional medicines under the titles “complementary”, “alternative”, or “nonconventional”
2
.
A
survey completed by WHO’s Roll Back Malaria programme showed that in Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and
Zambia, around 60% of all febrile cases in children, presumably due to malaria, are treated at home
with herbal medicine. Information compiled by UNAIDS revealed that approximately two thirds of
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HIV/AIDS patients in a variety of developing countries seek symptomatic relief and manage
opportunistic infections through the use of traditional medicines . In Brazil, a reported 89% of patients
diagnosed with cancer use TM Traditional medicines products to treat their conditions. There is
growing acceptance that traditional medicines are appropriate and effective in treatment or control of
certain diseases
2
.
Medicinal plants play a vital role for the development of new drugs. Almost 70% modern medicines
in India are derived from natural products. Medicinal plants play a central role not only as traditional
medicines but also as trade commodities, meeting the demand of distant markets. India has a very
small share (1.6%) of this ever-growing global market. To compete with the growing market, there is
urgency to expeditiously utilize and scientifically validate more medicinally useful plants
4
.
India is a vast repository of medicinal plants that are used in traditional medical treatments. The
various indigenous systems such as Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Allopathy use several plant species
to treat different ailments. The uses of herbal medicine become popular due to the toxicity and side
effects of allopathic medicines. This led to sudden increase in the number of herbal drug
manufactures. Plants are important sources of medicines and presently about 25% of pharmaceutical
prescriptions in the United States contain at least one plant-derived ingredient. In the last century,
roughly 121 pharmaceutical products were formulated based on the traditional knowledge obtained
from various sources. Medicinal plants play an important role in the development of potent
therapeutic agents. During 1950-1970 approximately 100 plants based new drugs were introduced in
the USA drug market including deserpidine, reseinnamine, reserpine, vinblastine and vincristine
which are derived from higher plants
4
.
3. Morphological study of Trichosanthes species
3.1 Trichosanthes cucumerina: It is a tropical or subtropical vine, raised for its strikingly long fruit,
used as a vegetable, medicine and a lesser known use in crafting didgeridoos. Common names include
snake gourd (var. anguina), serpent gourd, chichinga, and padwal. It is also known as chichindo in
Nepali Formerly, the cultivated form was considered a distinct species, but it is nowadays regarded as
mere variety of the wild ancestor, as they freely interbreed Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina
(L.) Haines–cultivated variant. Trichosanthes cucumerina var. Cucumerina-wild variant
5
.
3.2 Trichosanthes dioica: It is also known as the pointed gourd, parwal/parval (in Hindi) and "Paror"
in Maithili. Colloquially, in India, it is often called green potato. It is widely cultivated in the eastern
part of the India, particularly in Orissa, Assam, Bihar. It is a good source of carbohydrates, vitamin A,
and vitamin C. It also contains trace elements (magnesium, potassium, copper, sulphur, and chlorine)
which are needed in small quantities, for playing essential roles in human physiology. It is employed
as an ingredients of soup, stew, curry, sweet, or eaten fried and as potoler dorma or dolma (dolma)
with fish, roe or meat stuffing
6
.
3.3 Trichosanthes kirilowii: It is a flowering plant from the family of Cucurbitaceae found
particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs
used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name gualou with the related T. rosthornii. It
is known as Chinese cucumber in English
7
.
3.1 Trichosanthes tricuspidata: It known as T. palmate Roxb., T. bracteata Lamb., T. pubera Blume
or Modeccca bracteata, belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. In Hindi it is known as Lal Indrayan; in
English, Redball snakegourd; in Malaya, Kalayar; in Marathi, Kaundal; in Telugu, Avuduta; in Thai,
Khe- Ka- Daeng and in Nepal, Indreni
8
.
3.5 Cucurbitaceae family: The family Cucurbitaceae (vine crops ) consists of various squashes,
melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins and watermelons. The family
Cucurbitaceae lies within the class of dicotyledonous and in the division of anthophytha. It is known
to many as the gourd or pumpkin family. They usually produce spiralling tendrils or modified shoots
that wrap around adjacent objects and use them for support. That’s why they are considered vine
crops. Cucurbits usually are climbing plants with alternate, simple, palmately veined leaves. There are
however some dioecious species
9
.
4. Geographical distribution of Trichosanthus species
4.1 Habitat: A Trichosanthes species generally found at an altitude of 1200 to 2300 m. It ranges from
eastern Himalayas in India and southern China through southern Japan, Malaysia, and tropical
Australia. In India it is a large climber
3
.
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4.2 Distribution: Pantropical and subtropical a few representative in temperate to cooler climate
often attaining a height of 9-10 meters.
4.3 Vegetative Characters: Plants are mostly annual or perennial with weak stem trailing or
decumbent vines, usually climbing by means of tendrils and with plenty of juicy sap in the leaves and
stems.
Root: Roots are taproot, branched and thickened due to the storage of food and water.
Stem: Stems are herbaceous in nature and climbing by means of tendrils.
Leaf: They are alternate, brood, and usually simple but often deeply lobed or divided and palmately
veined, reticulate, petiole long and hollow. Tendrils may be simple or branched arising in the axil or
opposite to the leaf at the node.
Flower: They are regular, unisexual, rarely bisexual, smaller or large showy, white or yellow
10
.
5. Ancient uses of Trichosanthes species as medicine
5.1 Trichosanthes cucumerina (Snake gourd): The plant including roots, leaves, fruits, seeds have
medicinal properties. The root is used as a cure for bronchitis, headache and boils. Both root and fruit
are considered to be cathartic. The fruit is used as an anthelmintic. The seeds are used for stomach
disorders and are also considered as antifebrile and anthelmintic. Studies on the pharmacological
profile have shown the presence of anti-inflammatory activity in the roots and tubers and antidiabetic
activity in seeds. Chemically galactose specific lectin has been isolated from the seeds. The hot
aqueous extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina exerts a significant protection against ethanol or
indomethacin induced gastric damage. Increasing the protective mucus layer, as well as decreasing the
acidity of the gastric juice and antihistamine activity are probable mechanisms by which the hot water
extract mediates its gastroprotective actions
11
.
5.2 Trichosanthes dioica (pointed gourd): Interesting antimicrobial profile has been observed
against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Mycobacterium smegmatis bacteria
12.
They are employed in treatment of epilepsy, alopecia, skin
disease and diabetes mellitus
13.
According to Ayurveda, leaves of the plant are used as antipyretic,
diuretic, cardiotonic, laxative, and antiulcer. Traditionally it is also used in skin disorder by some
communities of Asia
14
.
5.3 Trichosanthes kirilowii (Chinese cucumber): The seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii have been
used in Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, a cough medicine and as an expectorant.
Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines exhibited cytotoxicity especially
against a human renal cancer. The triterpenoids present in the plant are expected to be potential anti-
tumor promoters
11
.
In traditional Chinese medicine it is said to drain heat and generate fluids, clear
and drain lung heat, transform phlegm, and moisten lung dryness, and resolve toxicity and expel pus.
The fruit of the plant, clear heat and transform phlegm-heat, unbind the chest and dissipate nodules,
and reduces abscesses and dissipate nodules
7
.
Fruits rind can help to cure diseases of the heart and
lungs. The tuber of plant displayed extreme inhibition of HIV
27
, enhance immunity, lowering blood
pressure, and tumor. In addition, Trichosanthes also has special green health care function. Therefore,
in recent years, it is valued and demanded
29
.
Proteins precipitated by acetone from an aqueous extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii root tubers
contained abortifacient and erythroagglutinating activities
30
.
5.4 Trichosanthes tricuspidata (Indrayan): In Thai traditional medicine, the plant is used as a
laxative, anthelmintic and in the treatment of migraine
11
.
The root extract has shown antioxidant
effect. In Ayurvedic medicines, the fruits are used in the treatment of asthma, ear ache and ozoena
(intranasal crusting, atrophy and fetid odor). In the Unani system, the fruits are used as a carminative
(an agent that relieves flatulence), a purgative, and as an abortifacient, to lessen inflammation, cure
migraines, and reduce heat of the brain. It also employed in treatment for opthalmia (inflammation of
the eye), leprosy (infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae), epilepsy (episodic impairment
or loss of consciousness, abnormal motor phenomenon) and rheumatism, (painful local inflammation
of joints and muscles) as well as other uses. The seeds are emetic and a good purgative. In the Thai
traditional system, the plant is used as an anti-fever remedy, a laxative, as an anthelmintic as well as
in migraine treatments. The roots of the plant are used to treat lung diseases in cattle and for the
treatment of diabetic carbuncles and headaches. The vaidyas, or practitioners of Ayurveda, also use
the fruits in treating stomatitis. The oil extracted from the roots is used as a pain killer. In Bastar
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District, Chhattisgarh, India, the plant is used for curing snakebite poisoning and the juice of the plant
is applied externally for skin eruptions. In Nepal the roots are used to cure bleeding in chickens
2
.
6. Chemical constituents of Trichosanthes species
6.1 Trichosanthes cucumerina: It is rich in protein and vitamin C. The use of the pulp of ripe fruits
as a substitute for tomato paste is the major use. The edible part of the immature fruit is 86 – 98% per
100g edible portions, it contains water 94g, protein (0.6g), fat (0.3g), carbohydrate (4g), fibre (0.8g),
Ca (26mg), Fe (0.3mg), P (20mg), Vitamin B1(0.02mg), Vitamin B2 0.03ng, Niacin 0.3mg, Vitamin
C (12mg).
15
The major active constituents of the drug are triterpenoid saponins viz, cucurbitacins.
The plant is richly constituted with a series of chemical constituents like flavonoids, carotenoids,
phenolic acids which makes the plant pharmacologically and therapeutically active
16
.
6.2 Trichosanthes dioica: Earlier chemical study reveals that in addition to a number of tetra and
pentacyclic triterpenes, the toxic bitter principles cucurbitaceous (a group of often highly oxygenated
tetracyclic compounds with a unique carbon skeleton and almost a carbonyl group in ring C) may be
considered as a taxonomic character of Cucurbitaceae. Pointed gourd is rich in vitamins and contains
Mg (9.0 mg), Na (2.6 mg), K (83.0 mg), Cu (1.1 mg), and S (17.0 mg) per 100 g edible part. The
seeds of Trichosanthes dioica contain a large amount of peptides. The seed peptides have the unique
property of being resistant to the action of silver nitrate, a sensitive reagent commonly used to stain
proteins. The various chemical constituents present in T. dioica are vitamin A, vitamin C, tannins, and
saponins. Phytochemical evaluations of aqueous and ethanolic extracts have showed the presence of
saponins and tannins. The seed extract of T. dioica contains oxidihydrokarounidol-3- benzoate as the
most predominant component in the highly polar fraction of the non saponifiable lipid. Two main
phytosterols present in T. dioica are namely, 24α- ethylcholest-7-enol and 24β-ethylcholest-7-enol.
Seeds of T. dioica also contain lectin, a carbohydrate (specifically galactose) binding protein which is
homologous to Type-II ribosome inhibitory proteins (Type-II RIP)
14
.
6.3 Trichosanthes kirilowii: The plant is a source of the toxic anti-HIV type I ribosome-inactiving
lectin trichosanthin
7
.
Several multi-florane triterpenoids have been isolated from the seed extract. The
most predominant ones include karounidiol and its 3-O-benzoate derivative. These triterpenoids are
expected to be potential anti-tumor promoters. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of karounidiol
against human cancer cell lines
11
.
6.4 Trichosanthes tricuspidata: It contains cucurbitane, hexanorcucurbitane and octanorcucurbitane
glycosides from fruits of Trichosanthes tricuspidata
33.
Mohamed isolated a tetrahydroxy pentacyclic
triterpene “trichotetrol” from the root extract of this vine. From the fruits of T. tricuspidata, 14
cucurbitane glycosides were isolated such as cucurbitacin K, 2-O-β-glucopyranoside, a
hexanorcucurbitane glucoside and octanorcucurbitane glucosides were isolated along with two known
cucurbitane glucoside. An extract of the fruits of this plant was found to be cytotoxic in KB cells, and
two new cucurbitacins were reported: tricuspidatin and 2-O-glucocucurbitacin J. Kaneda and
Uchikoba reported a protease from the sarcocarp of the fruits of this plant.
The root of plant contains contains methyl palmitate, palmitic acid, suberic acid, α-spinasterol,
stigmast-7-en-3-beta-ol, α-spinasterol 3-o-beta-D-glucopyranoside, stigmast-7-en-3-beta-ol-3-O-beta-
D-glucopyranoside, glyceryl 1-palmitate, glyceryl 1-stearate, bryonolic acid, cucurbitacin B,
isocucurbitacin B, 3-epi-isocucurbitacin B, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D, isocucurbitacin D and D-
glucose. It also contains more than 6 times more cucurbitacin than the roots o f T. kirilowii Maxim.
var. Japonicum Kitam. Also three new cycloartane glycosides have been isolated and named
cyclotricuspidosides A, B and C, from the leaf and stem parts
3
.
7. Recent scientifically proved use of Trichosanthes species
7.1 Trichosanthes cucumerina
1. Anti-oxidant activity of Trichosanthes cucumerina by Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)
assay
17
.
2. Anti-diabetes activity- “Trichosanthes cucumerina Linn improves glucose tolerance and tissue
glycogen in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus induced rats”
18
.
3. Trichosanthes cucumerina used for the treatment of inflammation may not cause any histological
aberration in the urinary bladder: by methanolic extracts of Trichosanthes cucumerina seeds on
the weight of urinary bladder in adult male wistar rats
19
.
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4. Aqueous extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina prevent diabetic renal abnormalities: by oral
administration of aqueous extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina
20
.
5. Anxiolytic activity of ethanolic extracts from the leaves of Trichosanthes cucumerina
21
.
7.2 Trichosanthes dioica
1. Anti- diabetic activity of Trichosanthes Dioica fuits investigated in streptozotocin induced
diabetic rats
22
.
2. Hypoglycemic effect of aquous extract of Trichosanthes dioica in normal and diabetic rats
13
.
3. Anti-tuberculosis (leaves extract active against Mycobacterium smegmatis) and Anti-microbial
activity, (leaves, fruits and seeds) of extracts by disc diffusion method
12
.
4. Antitumor efficacy and amelioration of oxidative stress by Trichosanthes dioica root against
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice
23
.
5. It has been reported that the presence of flavonoids and trace elements viz. Cu, K and Mg are
responsible for antidiabetic activity of plants
24
.
6. In vitro cytotoxic effect of Trichosanthes dioica root has been reported
25
.
7. Antioxidant, antidiarrhoeal and cytotoxic activity of aerial parts of Trichosanthes dioica Roxb
have been evaluated. Antioxidant activity using nitric oxide scavenging assay, castor oil-induced
and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea in mice were used to evaluate anti-diarrhoeal activity
while Brine shrimp lethality bioassay was employed for cytotoxicity test
26
.
7.3 Trichosanthes kirilowii
1. Purification, characterization and antitumor activity of a novel protein from Trichosanthes
kirilowii Maxim: Trichosanthrip, a novel RIP with a lower molecular mass, was purified from
collected 14 populations of wild T. kirilowii, and its characterization and antitumor activity was
assayed. Trichosanthrip has a good future in cancer care with higher antitumor activity and lower
side effect
27
.
2. Genetic transformation of hairy roots in Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim by Ti and Ri plasmids:
Compared with the ordinary hairy roots, the double transformed hairy roots grow faster but retain
similar protein contents
28
.
3. Germplasm resources evaluation of different populations of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim
posted by Tumor Research Center
29
.
4. Proteins precipitated by acetone from an aqueous extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii root tubers
contained abortifacient and erythroagglutinating activities
30
.
7.4 Trichosanthes tricuspidata
1. Study has been carried out on Trichosanthin induced apoptosis of leukemia K562 cells
31
.
2. Anti-oxidative effects of Trichosanthes tricuspidata root extract on sildenafil induced migraine
in albino mice has been observed
32
.
3. Anti-pyretic effect of Trichosanthes tricuspidata Linn on albino rats was investigated
33, 34
.
4. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of aqueous extract of Trichosanthes bracteata fruits in
animal model was study
35
.
5. Cytotoxic activity was investigated for extracts of Trichosanthes tricuspidata fruits in KB cells
36
.
Conclusion
After the through literature we have found that Trichosanthes have tremendous medicinal properties
such as anti-HIV, anxiolytic, anti-pyretic, anti-diarrhoeal, carminative, antioxidant, anti-diabetic,
antibacterial, laxative, anthelmintic, anti-tuberculosis, and purgative. It is also employed as an
abortifacient, diuretic, and cardiotonic agent. They also show strong anti-inflammatory, antitussive,
cytotoxic, and expectorant properties. Apart from biological profile Trichosanthes posses many
therapeutically important chemical constituents which required further research to explore the
medicinal value of this species.
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