Winter melon/Petha - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

By

Winter melon/Ash gourd/Petha


The wax gourd/winter melon can be stored for many months. Ash gourds of the Indian subcontinent have a white coating with a rough texture (hence the name ash gourd). Southeast Asian varieties have a smooth waxy texture. It is one of the few vegetables available during winter in areas of deciduous vegetation. In India, the wax gourd is recognized for its medicinal properties in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. It also has significance in spiritual traditions of India and Yoga, where it is identified as a great source of prana.

It shows antipyretic, nootropic, antidepressant, anorectic, anxiolytic, antinflammatry, analgesic, diuretic, antioxidant antihistamine, antidiarrheal, angiontensin-converting enzyme inhibition and gastroprotective properties.

            Click here for more information about Antioxidants

It has different names in different languages such as English names(Winter melon, White gourd, Ash gourd),  Marathi name(Kohala),  Hindi name(Petha, Rukasaa, Bhatuvaa),  Tamil name(Pusinikkai),  Telugu name(Boodida Gummadi, Gummadi),  Malayalam name(Kumbalam),  Kannada name(Boodu Kumbala Kai / Kayi),  Bengali name(Kumada),  Parsi name(Vaduba),  Arabian name(Mahadab)





Vitamin and mineral content

It is a popular vegetable crop both for nutritional and medicinal purposes. The nutritional value of winter melon is what makes it so important for human health, as the high concentration of vitamin C and vitamin B2 can have a wide variety of effects on the body. This is in addition to high levels of dietary fiber, zinc, iron, phosphorous, potassium and assorted other vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts. 

The major constituents of Benincasa hispida fruits are volatile oils , flavonoids, glycosides, sacchrides, proteins, carotenes, vitamins, minerals, ß-sitosterin and uronic acid 



Properties and benefits

  • Rasa (Taste) – Madhura (sweet)
  • Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Snigdha (unctuous, oily)
  • Taste conversion after digestion – Madhura (sweet)
  • Veerya (potency) –Sheetala (cold)
  • Effect on Tridosha – Balances Pitta, Vata
  •         Click here for more information about Tridosha (vata-Kapha-Pitta)
  • Medhya – improves intelligence
  • Mutraghatahara – helps in easy passing of urine
  • Pramehashamanam – useful in diabetes, urinary tract disorders
  • Mutrakruchrahara – Useful in dysuria
  • Ashmarichedana – Useful in urinary calculi. Helps to break into pieces
  • Vinmutra glapanam – helps to increase the bulk of urine and faeces
  • Trushartishamanam – relieves thirst and related pain
  • Jeernangapushtidam – nourishes the worn out body parts. Helps to improve body mass. Helps to gain weight.
  • Vrushyam – Aphrodisiac
  • Arochakahara – relieves anorexia
  • Balya – improves strength and immunity
  • Bruhmana – helps to gain weight, provides nutrition
  • Pittasranut – useful in bleeding disorders due to Pitta imbalance, such as menorrhagia, bleeding per rectum, nasal bleeding etc.
  • Vatanut – balances Vata
  • Bastishuddhikara – cleanses bladder
  • Chetorogahrut – relieves excessive tiredness
  • The unripe winter melon helps to balance Pitta.
  • Mid-ripe winter melon is coolant and increases Kapha.
  • Fully ripe/Old winter melon, is not so coolant, sweet, alkaline, easy to digest and improves digestion strength.
  • Winter melon seed oil has similar effects to those of the fruit



Uses, Benefits and Application

1) In Maharashtra, the ash gourd is known as Kohalaa. Kohala is used to prepare a sweet dish called Kohalyachi Vadee (Burfi), it is also used in preparing Sambhar.

2) In Nepal, it is called Kubhindo, it is cooked as a vegetable when it is young, but the ripe gourds are normally made into preserves or crystallized candy known as "murabba" or "petha".

3) Occasionally, it is used to produce a fruit drink with a distinctive taste. It is usually sweetened with caramelized sugar. In Southeast Asia, the drink is marketed as wax gourd tea or wax gourd punch.

4) In Indian cuisine/cookery it is traditionally used to prepare a wide variety of dishes. In northern India it is used to prepare a candy called petha. In South Indian cuisine. The juice of the raw ash gourd (Maipawl or Khar) is used by the Mizo community and indigenous Assamese ethnicities of North-East India as a natural remedy to treat mild to severe dysentery. 

5) This fruit pieces is either boiled with water or coconut and salt and usually eaten as breakfast or dinner.

6) Ash gourd has been enormously used for the treatment of diverse diseases like diabetes mellitus, diuresis diseases, urinary infection, chronic inflammator.

7) Winter melon is known to be extremely rich in dietary fiber and other essential nutrients which help in digestion. It promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation.

8) Consuming winter melon regularly can helps in protecting the kidneys, as it lowers down the blood pressure and the cholesterol levels which are quite beneficial for the heart as well as the kidneys. It efficiently improves the immunity and working of the kidneys. By acting as a diuretic, winter melon immensely helps in detoxifying the body by eliminating the toxic waste through the urine.

9) The fruit is mostly cubed, boiled, and eaten on its own or added to soups and stews. It can also be baked, fried, candied, or simply peeled and added to salads, or eaten raw.

10) The Ash gourd showed significant bio-accessibility of polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Moreover, the addition of sugar was found to enhance the bioaccessibility of these fractions in both the beverages. These Antioxidants play a protective role in our bodies by fighting free radical compounds that can cause serious harm. 

11) Like most green vegetables, winter melon is considered a yin food in traditional Chinese medicine, which means that it has refreshing properties. It’s known as an alkaline fruit that has a cooling, neutralizing effect within the body.

12) Winter melon seeds can be roasted and eaten just like pumpkin seeds.
           Click here for more information about pumpkin


13) Winter melon provides more than 19% of your daily vitamin C requirements in a single serving , which acts as a best immune booster.
       - Vitamin C can stimulate the production of white blood cells, and can also act as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals and prevent the mutation of healthy cells. 

14) Just drink one glass of ash gourd juice in the morning and you will see tremendous quantity of coolness in the body.

15) Consumption of ash gourd brings an enormous amount of energy, at the same time it keeps you really calm. If you drink coffee, it gives you energy with agitation. If you drink a glass of ash gourd, it gives you enormous amount of energy along with calmness.

16) In Hindu custom, during festivals or inauguration of office, Pooja of vehicles etc, it is a common practice to break ash gourd in front of office or vehicle. It is a symbolic sacrifice to avoid bad incidents in future.

17) Ash gourd can be used for weight gain. It can be used by preparing sabji or Sambhar. It can also be made as halva.




Side effects 

1) As It increases Kapha, it is not ideal to use in winter and whenever someone has cold, asthma or bronchitis condition.

2) If it is sweet, it is not ideal during indigestion

3) People suffering from obesity should consume winter melon in minimal doses.



If you want to give more suggestion in this, then comment us, we will replay your comment.


If you like this post, then share it and follow us on Instagram (@healthyeats793) and many thanks for coming to our site Healthy eats 


                    keep visiting


Follow us

1) Instagram(@healthyeats793)

2) Facebook

3) Pinterest

🙏🙏Subscribe and share for latest updates 🙏🙏





References

1) J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 11(4), 2019, 1455-1457

2) 2nd International e-Conference on  “Emerging Innovation and Advancement in Biological Science, Human Welfare and Agriculture Research in Current Era” Date: 25th to 27th of July, 2020 

3) Indian J Pharmacol. 2008 Nov-Dec; 40(6): 271–275. PMCID: PMC3025145

4) Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

5) J Food Sci Technol. 2019 Jan; 56(1): 473–482.   Published online 2018 Dec 1.   PMCID: PMC6342787

6) J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Oct; 7(4): 526–531.  Published online 2017 Feb 15.    PMCID: PMC5634755

7) Pharmacogn Mag. 2014 Apr-Jun; 10(Suppl 2): S207–S213.    PMCID: PMC4078339

8) Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization

9) NCBI

10) PUBMED

11) Bhojana Kutuhalam

12) Charaka Samhita



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

जामुन/जांभूळ/Jamun - स्वास्थ्य लाभ, अनुप्रयोग, रासायनिक घटक, दुष्प्रभाव और बहुत कुछ

By
Image
  जामुन ( जावा प्लम  / जांभूळ/Jamun) जांभूळ विशेष रूप से मधुमेह में विभिन्न रोगों के उपचार में व्यापक रूप से उपयोग किए जाने वाले औषधीय पौधों में से एक है।  .  गहरे बैंगनी  रंग के  पके फल वजन और आकार दोनों में जैतून के पेड़ के फल की छाप देते हैं और एक  कसैले स्वाद  वाले होते हैं ।  फल में  मीठा, हल्का खट्टा और कसैला स्वाद होता है और यह जीभ को बैंगनी रंग में रंग देता है। यह एंटीऑक्सिडेंट  , एंटी-इंफ्लेमेटरी, न्यूरोसाइको-फार्माकोलॉजिकल, एंटी-माइक्रोबियल, एंटी-बैक्टीरियल, एंटी-एचआईवी, एंटीलेशमैनियल और एंटीफंगल, नाइट्रिक ऑक्साइड स्केवेंजिंग, फ्री रेडिकल स्कैवेंजिंग, एंटी-डायरियल, एंटीफर्टिलिटी, एनोरेक्सजेनिक, गैस्ट्रोप्रोटेक्टिव, एंटी-अल्सरोजेनिक दिखाता है। रेडियोप्रोटेक्टिव गतिविधि।  जामुन के पेड़ के सभी भागों का उपयोग औषधियों में किया जाता है जिसमें  बीज, गिरी, फल, पत्ते, जड़ आदि शामिल  हैं। आयुर्वेद के अनुसार,  जामुन के फल का गूदा या जामुन का रस भोजन से पहले लिया जाता है, तो यह शरीर में वात दोष को बढ़ाता है।  इसे रोकने के लिए इसे पित्त कला (वह समय जब शरीर और प्रकृति में पित्त प्रधान
Read more

Jambul(Java Plum/Syzygium cumini) - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

By
Image
Jambul( Java Plum / Syzygium cumini) Jambul is one of the widely used medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases in particular diabetes. . The dark violet colored ripe fruits give the impression the fruit of the olive tree both in weight and shape and have an astringent taste . The fruit has a combination of sweet, mildly sour and astringent flavour and tends to colour the tongue purple. It shows antioxidant , anti-inflammatory, neuropsycho-pharmacological, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-HIV, antileishmanial and antifungal, nitric oxide scavenging, free radical scavenging, anti-diarrheal, antifertility, anorexigenic, gastroprotectivea, anti-ulcerogenic and radioprotective activity. All parts of Jamun Tree are used in medicines including seed, kernal, fruit, leaves, root, etc. According to Ayurveda, if Jamun fruit pulp or Jamun juice is taken before food, then it increases VATA DOSHA in the body. To prevent it, it should be taken in PITTA KALA (Time when Pitta is p
Read more

Himalayan Mayapple/Giriparpat - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

By
Image
 Himalayan Mayapple/Giriparpat Among the treasures of medicinal plant wealth, a perennial plant Podophyllum hexandrum, also known by the name Himalayan Mayapple, has been reported to be used as an intestinal purgative and emetic, a cure for contaminated and necrotic wounds, and a tumor growth inhibitor over the ages and in modern times. The plant's rhizome contains a resin, generally and commercially known as Indian podophyllum resin, which can be processed to extract a neurotoxin called podophylotoxin or podophyllin. The key lignan in the resin is podophyllotoxin, and it is a medium-dimerized substance. Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (Himalayan Mayapple) was known as Aindri (a divine drug) in ancient times. Its name in Hindi and Ayurveda is bantrapushi or Giriparpat The perennial herb Podophyllum hexandrum bearing the common names Himalayan May apple or Indian May apple, is native to the lower elevations of Himalayan countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and i
Read more

Black Pepper - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents side effects and many more

By
Image
Black Pepper - The King of spices Black pepper is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, and has been known to Indian cooking since at least 2000 BCE. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper  longum) are the best known pecies  in  this  family and are probably  among the most recognized spices in the world. Black pepper alone accounts for about 35% of the world’s  total spice trade. In addition, black pepper and long pepper have been used medicinally  for centuries  In recent years. The most commonly used part of the plant is the aromatic fruit. Interestingly, white, green, and black peppers are products of the P. nigrum fruits at different ripening stages. White pepper is obtained from the fully ripened fruits after removing the outer skin, green pepper is the unripe fruits, and black pepper is collected before full maturity of the fruit. Black pepper has a stronger flavor compared to white pepper while green pepper is characterized by its fresh and herbal flavor. The alk
Read more

Shatavari/Asparagus - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

By
Image
 Shatavari/Asparagus  Shatavari means “who possesses a hundred husbands or acceptable to many”. It is considered both a general tonic and a female reproductive tonic. Shatavari may be translated as “100 spouses”, implying its ability to increase fertility and vitality. In Ayurveda, this amazing herb is known as the “ Queen of herbs ”, because it promotes love and devotion. Shatavari is the main Ayurvedic rejuvenative tonic for the female, as is Withania for the male. It shows antiulcer, antioxidant, antiinflammatory galactogauge, adaptogen, antitusive, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic and immunomodulatory properties.                 Click here to explore more about Antioxidant and Free radicals It has different names in different languages such as Hindi Name (shatavari),  Marathi & Gujrathi Name (Satavari),  English Name (buttermilk root, climbing asparagus, wild asparagus),  kannada name (Majjige gadde- Halavu Makkala Tayi Beru, Ugurele Gida),  Tamil Name (Sadavare, Thanneer Vittaan
Read more