Momordica dioica: A medicinal plant, its benefits and pharmacological activity

Abstract

Momordica dioica is a cucurbitaceous climbing creeper (commonly known as kakrol, spiny gourd or teasle gourd). It is native to Asia with widely distributed in India and Bangladesh also. It is used as preventive and curative agent for various diseases. It has also significant nutritional value as vegetable over thousands of years. This review aims to take an attempt to evaluate the pharmacological properties and benefits of Momordica dioica according to the view of traditional medicinal plant based on treatment including. Momordica dioica is considered as an underutilized vegetable, although having significant presence of certain compounds containing higher nutritional value than many frequently consumed vegetables. Different plant parts of Momordica dioica provide a numbers of phyto-constituents like alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, ursolic acid, vitamins, minerals and rich in fibre. They have potential to cure asthma, excessive salivation and inflammation caused by lizards, snake bite, elephantiasis, fever, mental and digestive disorders. It is used to maintain skin health.

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*Corresponding author: Ankita P. Jatale
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0.
Momordica dioica: A medicinal plant, its benefits and pharmacological activity
Ankita P. Jatale 1, *, Gayatri B. Jaiswal 2, Payal G. Kabra 3, Chhaya V. Mahajan 4 and Swati P. Deshmukh 5
1 Department of Pharmaceutics Shraddha Institute of Pharmacy Kondala Zamre, Washim-444505, India.
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Prakashchand Jain College of Pharmacy, Palaskhed, Jamner, India.
3 Department of Pharmacognosy, MUP’S College of Pharmacy Degaon, Risod, 444505, India.
4 Department of Pharmaceutics, late Shri P.C. Bhandarkar college of pharmacy & R.R. Kele College of Pharmacy, India.
5 Department of Pharmacology, Shraddha Institute of Pharmacy Kondala Zamre, Washim-444505, India.
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2024, 26(03), 014–018
Publication history: Received on 20 January 2024; revised on 28 February 2024; accepted on 02 March 2024
Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2024.26.3.0079
Abstract
Momordica dioica is a cucurbitaceous climbing creeper (commonly known as kakrol, spiny gourd or teasle gourd). It is
native to Asia with widely distributed in India and Bangladesh also. It is used as preventive and curative agent for
various diseases. It has also significant nutritional value as vegetable over thousands of years. This review aims to take
an attempt to evaluate the pharmacological properties and benefits of Momordica dioica according to the view of
traditional medicinal plant based on treatment including. Momordica dioica is considered as an underutilized vegetable,
although having significant presence of certain compounds containing higher nutritional value than many frequently
consumed vegetables. Different plant parts of Momordica dioica provide a numbers of phyto-constituents like alkaloids,
glycosides, steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, ursolic acid, vitamins, minerals and rich in fibre. They have potential to
cure asthma, excessive salivation and inflammation caused by lizards, snake bite, elephantiasis, fever, mental and
digestive disorders. It is used to maintain skin health.
Keywords: Momordica dioica; Spiny gourd; Cucurbitaceaeis; Medicinal plant; Vegetable
1. Introduction
Momordica dioica is commonly known as spiny gourd or teasle gourd and also known as bristle balsam pear. It is a type
of flowering plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae/Gourdaceae family. This is a medium sized plants that grow
abundantly in warmer regions of the world. It is widely used as a vegetable throughout India and some parts of South
Asia. It is commercially important and exported and also used locally. They are well known for its bitter taste because
of the presense of alkaloids. To mask its bitter taste the fruits are usually parboiled or soaked in salt water before
cooking and eaten. Propagated by underground tubers. It has small leaves and small yellowish flowers with small dark
green round or oval fruits. It is dioecious plant, that means the both male and female individuals are different of this
plant. This medicinal plant is used to treat Type-I and Type-II diabetes. Cucurbitane triterpenoids, saponin glycosides
and Momordica anti-HIV protein. These are the phytochemicals may be incorporated into food stuffs or food
supplements and used as nutraceuticals. The green fruits and leaves of Momordica species plays a major role in
improving human health by offering nutritional and nutraceutical components. The cultivated varieties
of Momordica diocoa species such as M. charantia, M. balsamina (Linn), M. dioica (Roxb), M. cochinchinensis (Spreng),
and M. tuberosa or cymbalaria. This study states the potential of Momordica species as its important source of both
nutritional and bioactive compounds. In addition, this study also supports the inclusion of these wild species into the
main food stream of the local population, improves their nutritional status. Flowering of Momordica dioica occurs during
June to July and fruiting occures during September to November. Leaves of plant are simple membranous, broadly ovate
in outline, variable in length 3.8-10cm by3.2-8 cm, cordate at the base, deeply lobed in 3-5 triangular lobes, punctated,

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entire but distantly denticulate, petiole 1.3-4.5 cm. long channelled above, pubescent and glandular. Male flower
issolitary, up to 2.8 cm long and yellow coloured. Petals 1.3- 2.5 cm long, oblong lanceolate. Calyx five lobed, linear
lanceolate. Corolla five partite, stamen three. Female flower is solitary, small bract below the middle of the peduncle,
calyx and corolla as in male without staminode or of gland three united, ovary clothed with long soft papillae and many
ovuled, ellipsoid.
Figure 1 Momordica dioica fruit
There are some health benefits of the fruit:
 It's a great source of phytonutrients, a substance set up in certain shops which are believed to be salutary to
mortal health and help help colorful conditions. The vegetable is also low in calories as it contains roughly 17
calories per 100 gm. Kantola is also high in water content, so is salutary if you're trying to lose weight, adds
nutritionist Seema Singh.
 It also reduces blood sugar situations in diabetic cases since it's rich in factory insulin. “Anything that's high in
fibre and is loaded with water content is a great choice for a diabetic diet, and kantola ticks all the boxes, says
Singh.
 Carotenoids, like Lutein, present in this vegetable help in forestallment of colorful eye conditions,
cardiovascular conditions and indeed cancers. Being a source of vitamin C, a natural antioxidant, it removes
poisonous free revolutionaries from the body reducing the chance of cancer.
 Prevents Hypertension and Supports Heart Health Fresh fruit juice of chine gourd is recommended to people
with high blood pressure. It supports blood rotation and helps help atherosclerosis due to high antioxidant
exertion. It consists of antilipid peroxidative parcels, thus protects and heals the roadway walls.
 Prevents Seasonal Infections Thunderstorm time is considered as an ideal time for common viral infections in
the form of fever, cold and cough. Mother Nature has given enough power to spiny gourd to help similar
infections. So do n’t vacillate to eat it.
 Boosts Immune System Spine gourd possessesanti-allergic, antioxidant, antibacterial, analgesic, andanti-
inflammatory parcels. It supports all functions of the vulnerable system similar as rustling the microbes,
memory function of the vulnerable system, and also killer cells.
 Cures Eczema and Skin Problems Juice of the youthful fruits can be applied on the skin to cure pustules and
acne. The Roasted seeds of Momordica diocia fruit are used for eczema and other skin problems.
 It has antilipid peroxidative parcels, therefore prevents oxidation of fats, hence precluding Adipose Liver in the
first place. It's extremely voluntary to those suffering from Adipose Liver or Liver damage.
 Prevents and cures respiratory diseases chine gourd fruit greasepaint or infusion has errhine effect (induces
mucus discharge) when introduced in the nostrils. It's used in Ayurveda to cure Asthma, Bronchitis, and to treat
blocked sinuses.
 Brain Function Fruit of the factory possesses neuro-defensive parcels and supports the brain function via the
CNS (Central Nervous System). In Ayurveda, it's used to treat internal diseases.
 Treats Cough Coughing is the common problem that's seen in the children and grown-ups due to instant change
in climate or due to contagion andbacteria.However, also you can take 3 grams of pulverized Spiny Gourd thrice
in a day with water to control thenon-stop coughing, If you're suffering due to coughing.
 Give relief in breathing problem Due to fog and air pollution, breathing problems are adding fleetly. One can
consume spiny gourd to cure breathing problems. Mix 250- 500 mg of Spiny Gourd’ s root greasepaint with
1tsp. of gusto juice and 1tbsp. of honey and take it to get instant relief of breathing problem.

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Figure 2 Momordica dioica seeds
There are some traditional uses of Momordica dioca
 Fruit is also used to cure asthma, leprosy, inordinate expectoration, help the inflammation caused by lizard,
snake bite, elephantiasis, fever, internal diseases, digestive diseases and troubles of heart and to treat discharge
from mucous membrane.
 Fresh fruit juice is recommended for hypertension.
 Take a fruit and cooked it in a small quantum of oil painting and used for treating diabetes. Tender fruits are
rubbed on skin for pustules and acne.
 Greasepaint or infusion of the dried fruits, when introduced into the nostrils produces a important errhine
effect and aggravates a riotous discharge from the schneiderian mucous membrane.
 It's also used to cure fever, hostility, asthma, bronchitis, piles, hepatic damages, internal digestive diseases,
bleeding piles bowel affection and urinary complaints. The ointment from the leaves applied to the head to
relieve headache.
 Leaf paste applied externally to skin and orally two or three times daily for skin complaint.
 Greasepaint of root is applied to skin to make it soft and to reduce perspiration. Mucilaginous tubers of
womanish shops are used in bleeding piles & bowel infections.
 Tuberous root is base in hot water and 50 ml of juice is taken orally formerly a day on empty stomach to beat
diabetes. Heated root is used to stop bleeding from piles and also in bowel complaints.
 Roots of the factory are also recommended for scorpion sting. Root ground into a paste and smeared over the
whole body is supposed to act as a opiate in high fever with distraction.
 In Ayurveda, it's used as a salutary measure to cure numerous conditions as urinary diseases, respiratory
diseases, and vulnerable dysfunctions related to inflammation and complications. It should be consumed by
new maters to help bellyache and puking in babies.
Figure 3 Momordica dioica leaf and flower
1.1. Nutritional values of Momordica dioica
The fruit of Momordica dioica contains ashes 9.1, crude protein 5.44, crude lipid 3.25, crude fiber 22.9, and carbohydrate
59.31. the fruit has high calaries (288.25 kcal/ 100 g) in dry weight. the minerals ranges from (mg/ 100 g dry weight,)
and potassium has (4.63), sodium has (1.62), calcium has (7.37), iron(5.04), and zinc(3.83).

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In another disquisition, its nutritive value of per 100 g comestible fruit is reported to contain 84.1 humidity, 7.7 g
carbohydrate 3.1 g protein, 3.1 g fat, 3.0 g fiber and 1.1 g minerals and small amounts of essential vitamins like carotene,
thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. Ali and Deokule estimated some of its micronutrient and secondary metabolites as
follows calcium 0.5 mg/ g, sodiu 1.5 mg/ g, potassium 8.3 mg/ g, iron 0.14 mg/ g, zinc 1.34 mg/ g, protein 19.38, fat 4.7,
total phenolic emulsion 3.7 mg/ g, phytic acid 2.8 mg/ g, and ash value 6.7. also, its fruit is recommended as nutritionally
rich source of protein and good source of lipid, crude fiber, carbohydrate, iron, calcium, phosphorous. also, it's the
loftiest quantum of carotene (162 mg/ 100 g of comestible portion) vessel amongst the cucurbitaceous vegetables (17
– 19). The ash content is reported as 3- 4 containing a trace of manganese. Tirmizi etal. screened it as a implicit source
of chromium and zinc. Whereas, Momordica dioica(hulled) contained 0.27 mg/ kg of chromium and4.91 mg/ kg of zinc,
Momordica dioica (unpeeled) contained0.26 mg/ kg of chromium and11.0 mg/ kg of zinc. The protein content of leaves
and dry weight of upstanding factory corridor remained advanced in manly as compared to womanish defruited and
monoecious shops. The fruit contains advanced quantum of ascorbic acid and iodine. The presence of secondary
metabolites of fruit including alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, and saponins was determined. Among them, four
composites were insulated from ethyl acetate excerpt and five composites were insulated from methanol excerpt
conforming of alkaloids and flavonoids with NH and C =O functional groups, independently. The alkaloids present in
seed and root were called momordicin and Momordica foetida, independently. Phytochemical examinations
summurized showed the presence of lectins, β- sitosterol, saponin glycosides, triterpenes of ursolic acid, hederagenin,
oleanolic acid, α- spinasterol, stearic acid, gypsogenin, momodicaursenol, and three new composites named 3β- o-
benzoyl-11-oxo-ursolic acid, 3β- o- benzoyl-6-oxo-ursolic acid, and 3- o- β- D- glucuronopyranosyl gypsogenin.
2. Pharmacological exertion
Antidiabetic exertion: Antidiabetic specifically oral hypoglycemic goods of Momordica dioica in rat model was screened
it showed waterless, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanolic excerpt of fruit intermediated antidiabetic exertion in
alloxan convinced experimental rats. also, Sharma and Arya reported ethyl acetate and ethanol excerpt containing
steroids, triterpenoids had implicit part in alloxan induced diabetic rats and astronomically type 2- diabetes.
2.1. Antioxidant exertion
composites deduced from natural sources are able of furnishing protection against free revolutionaries. The alcoholic
excerpt inhibited the conformation of oxygen deduced free revolutionaries (ODFR) in vitro with 4000 g/ mL ascorbic
system. In another work, the free revolutionary scavenging eventuality of the tuberous roots was studied by different
in vitro styles, videlicet, DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, iron chelating exertion, total antioxidant
capacity, and haemoglobin glycosylation assay.
2.2. Antiallergic Conditioning
The antiallergic exertion of its excerpt in mice was observed. The alcoholic excerpt was estimated and its efficacity to
inhibit unresistant cutaneous anaphylaxis was set up in mouse and rat.
Anticancer exertion: Luo etal. showed that the CHCl3 excerpt of roots and five isolated ingredients had anticancer
exertion during pharmacological testing on cancer cell (L1210). The growth inhibitory indicator of- spinasterol-3-o—
D-gluco pyrano side was shown to be 50, at the cure of 4 g/ Ml. Analgesic exertion Ilango etal. and Vaidya and Shree
dhara reported that both hexane excerpt and answerable portion of methanolic excerpt of Momordica dioica fruit pulp
displayed analgesic exertion when compared to standard medicine. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol
excerpts displayed significant analgesic exertion in acetic acid convinced writhing pattern when compared to the vehicle
treated control group. But among them petroleum ether and methanol excerpt gave more significant analgesic exertion
than ethyl acetate excerpt.
2.3. Neuroprotective exertion
The effect of methanol and waterless excerpt of fruit pulp was observed on the central nervous system by using
neuropharmacological experimental models in mice. These excerpts were used for a dose dependent reduction of the
onset and duration of a reduction in locomotor exertion.
Antimicrobial exertion: Shrinivas etal. studied methanolic excerpt and waterless excerpt of fruit and set up that
methanolic excerpt had more promising antimicrobial exertion. Arekar etal. screened antibacterial conditioning of ethyl
acetate excerpt. The attention of 200 g/ slice was more active against E. coli compared to S. aureus, S. par typhi, and P.
mirabilis bacteria. Ethyl Acetate excerpt of in vitro shoot culture (yield 0.26) showed maximum inhibition zone against

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S. paratyphi and P. mirabilis while ethyl acetate excerpt of in vitro callus culture (yield 21.5) showed maximum
inhibition zone against S. aureus.
Anti-inflammatory exertion: The anti-inflammatory effect of the alcoholic excerpt of roots was estimated during CCl4
convinced hepatotoxicity. Ilango etal. estimated both hexane excerpt and methanolic excerpt of fruit pulp intermediated
anti-inflammatory conditioning.
2.4. Antifertility exertion
Shreedhar etal. reported the antifertility exertion of ethanolic and waterless excerpt of Momordica dioicaroot. The
excerpts showed moderate estrogenic exertion and caused significant increase in uterine weight. also, at a cure of
200mg/ kg, waterless excerpt showed 83 and ethanolic excerpt showed 100 abortifacient exertion. Kudaravalli
estimated the ethanolic excerpt of fruit intermediated antifertility conditioning of womanish rats but set up no manly
antifertility exertion at the cure of 250mg/ kg.
3. Conclusion
The main point of the given text is that Momordica dioica, also known as spiny gourd or teasle gourd, is a flowering
plant that is widely used as a vegetable in India and South Asia. It is known for its bitter taste and is used to treat
diabetes. The plant contains phytochemicals that can be incorporated into food and used as nutraceuticals, offering
nutritional and bioactive compounds.
Compliance with ethical standards
Disclosure of conflict of interest
No conflict of interest to be disclosed.
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