Telakucha/ Ivy Gourd: plant description and its uses

                           

                           Telakucha/ Ivy Gourd

Telakucha is a kind of perennial climbing herbal vine sized almost 9 ft tall. which grows in a sun-drenched protected place. Normally it prefers sandy soil. Leaves are of five lobes like pentagon form and green coloured. the length of the leaf is 5-10 cm. Upper surface of the leaf is hairless, while the lower is hairy. Flowers are usually star-shaped, large and white and about 4 cm in diameter. The fruit is smooth, small and ellipse in shape which is called Ivy gourd also known as berry. Its dimensions are 60 mm long by 15-35 mm in diameter. The clear white flesh of the fruit looks like the appearance as well as taste of the cucumber.

Botanical name: Coccinia grandis

Family :Cucurbitaceae

Life cycle: Perennial

Plant height : 9 ft

Leaf Colour: Green

Flower Colour: white

Temperature: 16-35 °C

Light: Full sun/ half sun

Soil: Loamy, sandy

Climate : Tropical, subtropical

Advantage: Easy to grow

Uses:

1. Freshly extracted plant juice of Telakucha has traditionally been used for treating diabetes as it controls sugar level of blood.
2. The application of paste, prepared from the leaves and dry fruit of Ivy-gourd has been used topically, for curing skin infections, scabies, and eczema and skin eruptions.
3. Regular intake of leaf juice of Coccinia indica has helped to flush-out toxins through urine discharge. It has also been reported to cure urinary tract infections. The dried bark of Telakucha has been found cathartic properties, preventing formation of kidney stones.
4. The ethanolic extract of fruit of Coccinia indica remove toxins from liver to cure poor liver functions and reduce fat absorption in liver.
5. Regular intake of two tea-spoonful root powder of Telakucha in warm water after dinner, which has enhanced the digestion process and ensure bowel smoothness due to presence of dietary fibres.