Holy Queen College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Puthuruthy, Thrissur-680623, Kerala, India
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, a widely used medicinal plant in traditional systems of medicine, exhibits a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. The present compilation integrates findings from multiple studies evaluating its antimicrobial, cytotoxic, pesticidal, and antiulcer activities, along with its ethnopharmacological significance. Extracts from various parts of C. grandis, particularly roots and leaves, have demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Sarcina lutea, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative pathogens (Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae), with notable minimum inhibitory concentrations. Moderate antifungal effects have been reported against Candida albicans, Colletotrichum falcatum, and Aspergillus niger using aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The plant also exhibited cytotoxic potential in the brine shrimp lethality assay (LC?? = 15 µg/mL) and moderate pesticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae adults. In addition, C. grandis displays a diverse pharmacological profile including antidiabetic, antioxidant,hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antipyretic properties.Experimental evaluation of its antiulcer potential revealed that ethanolic leaf extract significantly reduced indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats, offering ulcer protection comparable to omeprazole. Collectively, these findings validate the traditional uses of C. grandis and highlight its potential as a multifaceted therapeutic agent, warranting further investigation into its bioactive constituents and mechanisms of action.
Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and commonly known as Telakucha, is a significant medicinal plant widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, Eastern Africa, and Central America. In many regions including Australia, Asia, the Caribbean, the southern United States, and the Pacific Islands different parts of this plant are primarily consumed as a food source. The fruits are edible at both the green, unripe stage and the fully matured, bright red stage. Additionally, the tender shoots and young leaves are often cooked and eaten as leafy vegetables. Beyond its nutritional value, various plant parts such as the fruits, stems, roots, and leaves are traditionally used to manage numerous health conditions. These include edema, eye ailments, hypertension, fever, inflammation, headaches, typhoid, sunstroke, jaundice, stomach discomfort, dysentery, and skin disorders like dermatitis, eczema, scabies, and alopecia. It is also employed as a carminative, hypnotic, emetic, blood purifier, and in treating mental health issues and leucorrhea. Phytochemical investigations indicate that Coccinia grandis contains several bioactive compounds, including saponins, cardenolides, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which are believed to contribute to its antibacterial properties. The root is particularly rich in diverse constituents such as resins, alkaloids, starch, fatty acids, carbonic acid, triterpenoids, the saponin coccinoside, flavonoid glycosides, lupeol, β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, and taraxerol, all of which may play essential roles in the plant’s pharmacological activities. The objective of this review is to consolidate findings on various pharmacological activities of C. grandis, emphasizing the significance of its fruit as a potential therapeutic source.
Mathew George*, Lincy Joseph, Ann Mary V. A., Ashin Joseph, Liyamary N. J., Muhamad Ashif P. S., Shahla E. P., Review on Various Activities Exhibited by Coccinia Grandis, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2025, 2 (12), 162-165. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17877454
10.5281/zenodo.17877454
