Ridge gourd/Turai - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

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 Ridge gourd/Turai

Luffa acutangula (Cucurbitaceae), a perennial plant grows mainly in India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Egypt, and other parts of Africa, it is widely used in the traditional Indian medicinal system to treat various health conditions. Propagation of this plant is done through seeds and are sown in February–March or June–July

It shows antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, CNS depressant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory.

             Click here to explore more about Antioxidant and Free radicals

It has different names in different languages such as Hindi name(Taroi, Kharro, Nenua, Chikni Turai, Kalitori Tharoayi),  English name(Ridge gourd, Ribbed gourd, angled luffa),  Marati Name(Shirola, Dodaki, Dodka, Doadakee),  Gujarati Name(Ghisoda, Turiya, Sirola),  Tamil Name(Peerakangai, Pirkkankai),  Telugu name(Adavi beera, Beera kaya, Beera Kayi, Neyangnattakolu),  Kannada Name(Heerekayi, Heerakai),  Bengali Name(Ghinga, Jhinga),  Assamese Name(Zika, Bhul),  Malayalam Name(Peechinga),  Punjabi name(Kalitori)



Two types of Ridge gourd

  1. Bitter/Wild variety : used for medicinal purpose
  2. Non-Bitter variety : used as vegetable




Vitamins and minerals content

Luffa acutangula fruit include carbohydrates, carotene, fat, protein, phytin, amino acids, alanine, arginine, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, hydroxyproline, leucine, serine, tryptophan and pipecolic acid. Its leaves and flowers contain flavonoids and herb contains saponins and acutosides. The seeds contain a fixed oil which consists of glycerides of palmitic, stearic and myristic acids

More than 50 chemical compounds have been isolated from a plant which mainly comprises flavonoids, anthraquinones, proteins, fatty acids, saponin triterpene, volatile components, and other phytoconstituents. 

Seed oil showed the presence of total saturated (32.1%) and unsaturated (67.9%) fatty acids which were recognized as myristic (0.45%), palmitic (20.9%), stearic (10.8%), oleic (24.1%) and linoleic (43.7%) acid.

Luffa acutangula peel (LAP) was observed to be a good source of fiber (20.6 %) and minerals (7.7 %). 

Amino acid analysis revealed presence of the highest content of Carnosine followed by aspartic acid and aminoadipic acid.

It's seeds are an excellent agricultural product and its kernel have been found potentially rich in protein and fat (39 and 44 %) which are higher than those contained in many plant seeds.



Properties and Benefits 

  • Rasa (Taste) – Tikta (Bitter)
  • Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light for digestion), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Pungent)
  • Vipaka- Katu (Undergoes to pungent taste conversion after digestion)
  • Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
  • Effects on Tridosha – Pacifies kapha and pitta dosha 
  •            Click here to explore more information about Tridosha (vata-Kapha-Pitta)
  • Vamaka – Induces emesis & purgation
  • Deepana – induces appetite

Benefits

  • Pakvashaya shodhini – cleanses large intestine
  • Amashaya shodhini – cleanses stomach and small intestines
  • Used in –
  • Kasa – cough, cold
  • Garavisha – chronic poisoning
  • Udara – ascites, enlargement of the abdomen
  • Pandu – anemia
  • Shopha  – inflammation
  • Pleeha – Disease of the spleen, Splenomegaly
  • Gulma – Tumors of the abdomen
  • Arsha – haemorrhoids
  • Kushta – skin diseases
  • Kamala – Jaundice, Liver diseases

Ridge gourd fruit –

  • Katu – pungent
  • Snigdha – unctuous, oily
  • Tikta – bitter
  • Hima – coolant
  • Laghu – light to digest
  • Deepana – improves digestion strength
  • Bhedana – mild laxative
  • Hrudya – acts as cardiac tonic, congenial for heart
  • Vatala – increases Vata Dosha
  • Balances Kapha and Pitta Dosha
  • Indicated in –
  • Arochaka – anorexia
  • Kasa – cough, cold
  • Meha – diabetes, urinary tract disorders
  • Jwara – fever
  • Shwasa – asthma and chronic respiratory disorders
  • Kushta – skin diseases
  • The sweet variety of ridge gourd balances all the tridoshas and is ideal to consume soon after fever is relieved. 




Uses, Remedies Benefits and Application

1) The juice of the fruit of koshataki is given for the purpose of emesis & purgation, done as poorvakarma in panchakarma therapy.


2) Ridge gourd has high nutritive value and is often called a nutrition powerhouse because of its rich and varied nutrient content. It has vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, and essential amino acids.


3) The decoction of ridge gourd is given in a dose of 10-20ml to treat various skin diseases.


4) In Maharashtra and the tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh, leaves and fruit powder are used for the treatment of jaundice.


5) The most common use of the ridge gourd fruit is cooked as a vegetable. It has a sweet taste, cooling in nature and easy to digest. They form a low-calorie diet, which is considered good for diabetes. It is an ideal diet for those who are looking for weight loss.


6) The charantin and peptide which are present in this vegetable have insulin regulatory properties and thus helps in lowering blood sugar levels as well as urine sugar levels.


7) The pulp of the ridge gourd is ground andapplied on the wound to stop the bleeding.


8) The juice of the fruit of koshataki plant is given in a dose of 10-20 ml to treat hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and inflammation of the gastric mucosa.


9) The young fruit of some Luffa cultivars are used as cooked vegetables or pickled or eaten raw, and the shoots and flowers are sometimes also used.


10) The fruit juice is given in a dose of 10-15ml to induce emesis and reduce the symptoms of asthma.


11) It helps in cooling down the body to a large extent, is a natural detoxifier, thus helps in purifying the blood and it also helps in building immune system.


12) The juice of the fruit is given in a dose of 10 ml to treat conditions of intestinal worm infestation.


13) The paste of the leaves of Luffa acutangula is applied externally to treat localized swelling and insect bites.


14) The whole plant is also used for the treatment of ulcers and sores.


15) Its high fiber content helps with healthy digestion and proper functioning of the excretory system. 


16) Mature fruits are harvested when dry and processed to remove all but the fruit fibre, which can then be used as a sponge or as fibre for making hats.


17) The non -bitter variety of Kosataki is used as vegetable and is commonly found in many recipes.


18) Ridge gourd plant is also used by the tribes of western Maharashtra on insect bite. Fruit powder is applied topically to treat swollen hemorrhoids. 


19) The seeds of ridge gourd are ground and administered as nasya to treat headache. The fruit juice is also administered as Nasya (nasal drops) for the same purpose.


20) The dried fruit powder is useful in preventing premature graying of hair, Skin glowing.

                Ridge gourd is allowed to dry and mature on thevine and it can be harvested as a sponge. This sponge hasbeen used traditionally as an exfoliating product whilebathing. They are considered to be useful in removing deadcells from the skin thus making the skin smooth andconditioned. Sponge is also effective in fighting off foot and body.


21) The blood purifying properties of ridge gourdare helpful against pimples and acne problems 





Side effects

  • No adverse effect is seen.



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Reference

  1. Charaka Samhita
  2. Front Pharmacol. 2018; 9: 1177.  PMCID: PMC6232903
  3. J Food Sci Technol. 2016 Jul; 53(7): 3122–3128.   PMCID: PMC5052181
  4. Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science. 2016; 3(5):397-401
  5. Sushruta Samhita
  6. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Review and Research; 7(3); 151-155ISS
  7. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Metabolic and Non-Communicable Diseases,  2022, Pages 61-77
  8. Kaiyyadeva Nighantu
  9. Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2019; 12(5):2553-2558.
  10. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu
  11. Dhanvantari Nighantu
  12. Local tradition and knowledge

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