Mukia maderaspatana - Pointed gourd

❏ Binomial Name : Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M.Roem.

❏ Synonym : Mukia Scabrella, Mukia Maderasparana, Cucumis maderaspatanus

❏ Family : Cucurbitaceae

❏ Common Name : Pointed gourd, Madras Pea Pumpkin, rough bryony, Bristly bryony. 

❏ Tamil Name : Musumuskkai 

❏ Hindi Name : Paripushkara, musmusa, palwal, parwar, bilari.

❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated

Mukia maderaspatana Botanical Description

Prostrate or climbing scabrid herbs; tendrils simple. Leaves 4-8 x 3-7 cm, ovate-deltoid, angular or shallowly 3-5-lobed, base cordate, margin denticulate, apex accuminate, mucronate, scabrid on both sides; petiole to 6 cm. Male flowers in axillary, sessile clusters. Calyx tube to 2 mm, villous; lobes subulate, erect. Petals 5 , c. 3 mm long, ovate-oblong, obtuse, yellow. Stamens 3, free, inserted at base of calyx tube; anthers oblong, ciliate. Female flowers solitary or in clusters. Ovary villous. Berry c. 1.2 cm across, globose, red. Seeds lenticular, rugose. Fl. &Fr.: Throughout the year.

Mukia maderaspatana Medicinal uses

❀ A diabetic people are suggested to add these leaves to maintain normal glycemic index. 

❀ Adding grinded fenugreek seeds with Patol increases strength and stamina in both genders.

❀ A small quantity of pointed gourd, a pinch of turmeric with four or five garlic is added with water till it comes to the form of concoction.  Drink it, if you have sore throat due to cold. 

❀ For bile related diseases, grind the Amla fruit with this plant and eat it for getting healing from bile problems.

❀ The dried Madras pea Pumpkin  mixed with licorice are dried under the sun and grinded in the form of powder.  A 2 grams of this powder with honey is more than enough to get rid of cough and irritative cough.