Botanical name : Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.

Family : Cucurbitaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS

Kakanasa, Dhavamkshanasa

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya, Katu

Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha

Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English :

Hindi : Indrayan, Mahakal

Malayalam : Kakkatondi

Distribution – Throughout India up to an altitude of 2500 meters

PLANT DESCRIPTION

A large climber with grayish green stem. Leaves palmately lobed dark green, with numerous glands beneath; flowers unisexual, male in axillary recemes, females in solitary recemes. Fruits globose, red when ripe with 10 orange streaks; seeds numerous and smooth.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Plant pacifies vitiated vata, constipation, migraine, carbuncle, otitis, rhinitis, inflammations, asthma, epilepsy and skin diseases.

Useful part : Roots, Fruits