Trichosanthes kirilowii

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Genus

Trichosanthes

Life cycle

perennial

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

vigorous

Height

6 m

Fertility

Insects

Flower type

monoecious

Pollinators

Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit^[8]. The young fruits are pickled^[5]. The pulp of older fruits is eaten^[7]. Mature fruits are about 10cm long^[9]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a vegetable^[5][8]. An edible starch is obtained from the root^[8]. It requires leeching^[7], which probably means that it has a bitter flavour[K]. The root is harvested in the autumn, cut into thick slices, soaked for 4 - 5 days in water, changing the water daily until the root disintegrates and can be mashed into a fine pulp. It is then steamed into cakes or used for making dumplings^[5][6][7]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs^[10]. Recent research has isolated a protein called 'trichosanthin' in the roots and this is undergoing trials as a possible remedy for AIDS^[11]. Skin, vulnerary^[3][6]. The leaf and the stem are febrifuge^[10]. The fruit is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antifungal, depurative, emollient, expectorant and laxative^{[2][3][4][6][11]}. It is used in the treatment of pulmonary infections with yellow and thick sputum, chest pains, stuffy feelings in the chest, constipation and dry stool^[4]. It has an antibacterial action against E. coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, B. paratyphi, Pseudomonas, Vibrio cholerae, V. Proteus etc^[4]. The fruit is traditionally prepared as a winter soup to ward off colds and influenza^[11]. The fruit is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use^[11]. The rind of the fruit is used to treat a number of ailments, including cancer, jaundice, retained placenta, bronchial infections with thick phlegm and sore throat^[4][10][11]. The seed is antitussive, emollient and expectorant^[10]. The root is antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, oxytocic, sialagogue and uterine tonic^{[2][3][4][6][10][11]}. The fresh root has been noted for centuries as an abortifacient - a sponge soaked in its juice was placed in the vagina and induced an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy^[10]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of diabetes, dry coughs, and to assist in the second stage of labour^[4][11]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use^[11]. The root and/or the seed is powdered and used in the treatment of mammary cancer^[10].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil from the seed is used for lighting^[6].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Climber

Environment

Range

E. Asia - China, Mongolia, Vietnam.

Habitat

Forest edges and a weed of thickets in China^[2].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 9+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich well-drained soil and plenty of moisture in the growing season^[1][9]. Sometimes cultivated in China for its edible fruit and medicinal uses. Male plants are favoured for root production^[11]. This species is not winter hardy in Britain and usually requires greenhouse cultivation^[11]. However, it may be possible to grow it as an annual in a very warm sheltered bed outdoors^[1]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by means of tendrils^[11]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required^[11].

Related plants

• Trichosanthes cucumerina anguinaSnake Gourd
• Trichosanthes kirilowii japonica
• Trichosanthes multiloba
• Trichosanthes ovigeraJapanese Snake Gourd

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩1↩2

2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

   ↩1↩2↩3

3. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

   ↩1↩2↩3

4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

   ↩1↩2↩3

6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3

9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

   ↩1↩2

10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12