Parwal
Scientific Name(s): Trichosanthes dioica
Common Name(s): Kovakkai, Parol, Paror, Parora, Parwal, Pointed gourd, Potol, Thonde kayi
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 21, 2021.
Clinical Overview
Use
Juice of the leaves of T. dioica has been traditionally used as a tonic, febrifuge, and in enlargement of liver and spleen. Leaves and fruits have also been used for treating alcoholism and jaundice, and leaves for edema and alopecia. The plant has also been used as an antipyretic, diuretic, cardiotonic, and laxative. However, little clinical information exists to support any of these uses.
Dosing
Clinical data for dosing recommendations in humans are limited.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
None well documented.
Toxicology
Clinical information is lacking.
Scientific Family
- Cucurbitaceae
Botany
T. dioica is a perennial and dioecious plant that grows as a vine with slender, angled, and hispid stems.Gohil 2012, Kumar 2011, Lavekar 2008 The vines are approximately the thickness of a pencil, with dark green, cordate, ovate, oblong, unlobed, and rigid leaves. The tendrils are usually forked. The tuberous roots have a taproot system.Gohil 2012, Kumar 2011, Lavekar 2008 The white flowers are tubular and dioecious. The male peduncles are paired, and the female flowers are solitary. Fruits are 5 to 10 cm long, oblong, globose, smooth, striped, and orange-red when ripe, and the seeds are globose.Gohil 2012, Kumar 2011, Lavekar 2008
History
The parwal (pointed gourd) is used as a dioecious, herbaceous vegetable. The crop is of Indo-Malayan origin and grown extensively in eastern India and, to a lesser extent, in other parts of South Asia.Kumar 2011, Lavekar 2008 Fruits of this plant have long been used as a vegetable in traditional Indian foods. The fruits, leaves, and tender shoots of the plant have been used in the traditional and Ayurvedic medical system. The fruits are easily digestible and diuretic in nature.Kumar 2011, Lavekar 2008
Chemistry
T. dioica has a number of tetra and pentacyclic triterpenes. Cucurbitacins, taxonomic members of the Cucurbitaceae family, are highly oxygenated tetracyclic compounds with a unique carbon skeleton and, sometimes, a carbonyl carbon in ring C.Gohil 2012 T. dioica is rich in vitamins and minerals (eg, sodium, potassium, copper, selenium).Alom 2013 The seeds contain a large amount of peptides, which are uniquely resistant to the action of silver nitrate.Kabir 2000 Other constituents are tannins, saponins, and phytosterols.Chopra 2002, Ghaisas 2008, Toshihiro 1997 The seeds also contain lectin, a carbohydrate-binding protein similar to type-2 ribosome inhibitory proteins.Ali 2004 The plant contains fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids. Other constituents include colocynthin, essential oils, starch, and reducing sugars.Chopra 2002, Ghaisas 2008,
