Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Based on Ethnobotanical surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please visit pankajoudhia.com

For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt

530. Lagenaria vulgaris, Seringe, h.f.b.l, ii. 

613. 

Syn. : — Cucurbita lagenaria, Linn, Roxb. 700. 

Sans. : — Alabu ; Katutumbi (bitter variety). 

Vera. ; — Kaddu, Lauki (HO ; Harrea Kaddu (Dec). Lau (B.) ; 

Shora-kai (Tain.) ; Bella-sehora (Mai.); Sora-kaya ; Anapa-kai 

(Tel.) ; Hunea-kuddoo (Dec). 

The bitter variety known as : — Karwi-tumbi (H.) ; Tikta- 

lau (B.j ; Kadwa-bkopla (Bomb.) ; Kadu-bhopali ; Dudha- 

bhopala (Mar.). 

Habitat: — Cultivated throughout India. 

A large, pubescent, climbing annual. Tendrils 2-fid. — Leaves 

often Gin. diam., softly pubescent on both surfaces, more or 

less 5-angular or 5-lobed, ovate or orbicular, cordtate, dentate. 

Petioles long, with 2 glands at its apex. Flowers large, white, 

solitary, monoecious or diocious. Male peduncle often 6in. 

Female peduncle lin. Calyx-tube funnel-shaped, sub campanu- 

late, teeth 5, narrow, Jin., pubescent. Petals l-2in., 5, ovate; 

stamens 3, anthers ccnnate, included, one 1-eelled, two 2- 

celled, cells conduplicate, rudiment of ovary 0. Female Calyx 

and Corolla as in the male. Ovary oblong, style short, with 3 

bifid stigmatic lobes. Ovules many, horizontal. Fruit often 

l|ft. or more, usually bottle or dumb-bell shaped, thick 

membranous, almost woody when old, indehiscent. Seeds 

f by f and Jin., with an impressed groove parallel to and near 

the margin. 

Uses : — The seeds of this plant yield an oil which is used as 

an application for headache. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: I have documented information about over 20000 Traditional Herbal Formulations for Headache including Migraine in which Lagenaria seeds are added as octonary ingredient. Please see Tables Lage-1 to Lage-40 for details.]  The flesh of the fruit is con- 

sidered diuretic, refrigerant and antibilious. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: I have documented information about over 50,000 Traditional Herbal Formulations in which Lagenaria fruits are added as important ingredient. Please see Tables Lage-41 to Lage-120 for details.] It is also some- 

times made into a poultice ; when fresh, it is bitter and purgative, 

N. 0. CUCURBITAOE^. 585 

and is applied over the shaved head in delirium (Watt). 

In the Punjab, the pulp is applied to the soles, in " burning of 

the feet." 

The pulp of the bitter variety is powerfully emetic and 

purgative. In Bombay it is used in native practice as a 

purgative ; it is also applied externally as a poultice. (Dymock.) 

A decoction of the leaves mixed with sugar is given in jaundice 

(Drury). [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: I have documented information about over 4,000 Traditional Herbal Formulations for liver diseases in which Lagenaria leaves are added as tertairy ingredient. Please see Tables Lage-121 to Lage-150 for details.]

E-documents on Lagenaria

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleList&Author=oudhia&Text=Lagenaria

Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2013). Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com