English :Red gourd / Squash
Hindi :Lal Kumra/Mithakaddu
Group :Angiosperm (Dicotyledon)
Species :maxima Duchesne.
Habit :Robust climber
Parts Used :Fruit, Leaf, Seed
Mode of Preparation :Tender shoot and leaves eaten as salad, fried and fruit cooked as a vegetable.
Mode of use :Fresh and local application
Ingredients :Leaves contain calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper. An esterase was reported purified from the fruits. Major fatty acid present in the lipids is linolenic.
Ailment Treated:Fresh fruit is crushed and applied to monkey-bite. Seeds are used as tonic and diuretic. Fruit pulp used as poultice on boils, burns and inflammations. Fruits are refrigerant, emollient, diuretic, sedative, burns, boils and neuralgia.
Source:Cultivated extensively in both hills and valley areas.