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Botanical Name:
Trichosanthes palmata Roxb
Mahakal consists of dried root of Trichosanthes bracteata
(Lam.) Voigt (syn. Trichosanthes palmata Roxb), Family
Cucurbitaceae
Common Name(s) in English & Indian Languages
Sanskrit: Mahakala, Gavadani
Bengali: Maakaal
English: Chinese Cucumber
Gujrati: Raataan Indraayan
Hindi: Maakaal, Mahar Kaundala, Lal Indraayan, Mahakaal
Kannada: Avagudehannu
Malayalam: Kaakkattonti
Marathi: Kaundal, Kavandal
Oriya: Mahaakaal
Punjabi: Kaehree, Aankorattai
Tamil: Korattai
Telugu: Erraa Chedupucca
Botanical description:
A large perennial, up to 9 m in height, dioecious, branched,
woody tendril climber. It has a robust stem that is woody
below, and has 3-cleft tendrils. The leaves are variable,
palmately 3-5 lobed with a cordate base, and the lobes are
ovate to oblong with serrate or dentate margins. Male
flowers are in axillary 5-10 flowered racemes with large
bracts, while the female flowers are solitary. The corolla
petals are wedge-shaped, fringed and white in color. The
fruits are globose, and when ripe are red with orange
streaks.
Parts used:
Roots
Major chemical constituent:
TTricuspidatin, 2-o-cucurbitacin J, cucurbitacin B, 23,
24-dihydrocucurbitacin B
Therapeutic uses:
• Cyst (Granthi)
• Abdominal lump (Gulma)
• Fever (Jvara)
• Jaundice (Kamala)
• Cough (Kasa)
• Skin diseases (Kustha)
• Urinary disorders (Prameha)
• Filariasis (Slipada)
• Asthma (Svasa)
• Inguino-scrotal swellings (Vrddhi)
• Ulcer (Vrana)
• Impaired digestion and metabolism (Amadosa)
• Hernia (Antarvrddhi)
• Diseases of breast (Stanapida)
• Disorder of Spleen, Ascites associated with spleenomegaly
(Plihodara)
• Malpresentation of the foetus (Mudhagarbha) |
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