Momordica dioica belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae has many vernacular names in India. It is called as Dhar-karela, Khekasi Golkankara (Hindi); Vahisa (Sanskrit); Kankarol (Bengali); Aegarvalli (Tamil). This is a climbing creeper found distributed all over India. It is also called a sweet bitter gourd. Or Jangali Bitter gourd. This is also called a rainy season vegetable. Root tuber and fruits are medicinally important. Due to this farmers now started their cultivations.
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| [Momordica dioica root tubers] |
Many people are very familiar with its raw fruits and enjoyed the cooked tasty vegetables but have you ever hear the root tuber of this plant is very important and is used as traditional medicines since the time of civilizations.
Roots of the male creepers are applied in the form of paste to scorpion-sting and to ulcers caused by snake-bites. Mucilaginous root tubers of the female creepers are used in the form of electuary in doses of 1 or 2 drachms. in case of bleeding piles, similar bowel affections, and urinary complaints.
It also acts as an expectorant. The root is pasted and applied over the body as a sedative in fevers. Powder of the root applied on the skin renders it soft and supple and lessens perspiration.
