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Medicines

Colocynth

Category: Medicines - plant based

Type

Voluntary

Introduction and description

 

Citrullus colocynthis, with many common names including colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, egusi, vine of Sodom, or wild gourd, is a desert  plant native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, especially Turkey (especially in regions such as İzmir), Nubia, and Trieste.

It resembles a common watermelon vine, but bears small, hard fruits with a bitter pulp. It originally bore the scientific name Colocynthis citrullus.

Description

The roots are large, fleshy, and perennial, leading to a high survival rate due to the long tap root. The vine-like stems spread in all directions for a few meters looking for something over which to climb. If present, shrubs and herbs are preferred and climbed by means of axiliary branching tendrils.

The leaves are very similar to watermelon, being palmate and angular with three to seven divided lobes.

The flowers are yellow and solitary in the axes of leaves and are borne by yellow-greenish peduncles. Each has a subcampanulated five-lobed corolla and a five-parted calyx. They are monoecious, so the male (stamens) and the female reproductive parts (pistils and ovary) are borne in different flowers on the same plant. The male flowers’ calyx is shorter than the corolla. 

The fruit is smooth, spheric with a 5– to 10-cm-diameter and extremely bitter taste. The calyx englobe the yellow-green fruit which becomes marble (yellow stripes) at maturity. The mesocarp is filled with a soft, dry, and spongy white pulp, in which the seeds are embedded. Each of the three carpels bears six seeds. Each plant produces 15 to 30 fruits.

Cultivation

C. colocynthis  grows in sandy, arid soils. It is an annual or a perennial plant (in the wild) in Indian arid zones and has a great survival rate under extreme conditions.  It can tolerate annual precipitation of 250 to 1500 mm and an annual temperature of 14.8 to 27.8 °C. It grows from sea level up to 1500 meters above sea level on sandy loam, subdesert soils, and sandy sea coasts with a pH range between 5.0 and 7.8.

Distribution

Colocynth is native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, and is distributed among the west coast of northern Africa, eastward through the Sahara, Egypt until India, and reaches also the north coast of the Mediterranean and the Caspian Seas. It grows also in southern European countries as in Spain and on the islands of the Grecian archipelago. On the island of Cyprus, it is cultivated on a small scale; it has been an income source since the 14th century and is still exported today.

Medicinal uses

 

The detail of the chemicals present in Colocynth according to Dr Duke's Phytochemical database is shown below, but here we present a summary of this activity.

Plant and petiole

If you glance through the chemicals present in Colocynth, it should be clear that the plant and its petiole [The Petiole in botany is the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem] are not something one would ever ingest.  I have highlighted in RED some of  the reasons why.

But for EXTERNAL use the plant is interesting as it appears to have very extensive anti-parasitic and insecticidal activity and one of the parasites it can target is the one causing Trichomoniasis.  Marked in BLUE on the list below. There is also an activity, which is easy to miss, against trypanosomatids, shown in Orange , which cause :

  • African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness, caused by Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by Tsetse flies)
  • South American trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by triatomine bugs) ad
  • Leishmaniasis (a set of trypanosomal diseases caused by various species of Leishmania transmitted by sandflies).

A desert plant by definition is likely to be one that has to put up sterling defences against insects eating it, so one would expect to see high levels of insecticidal activity, it is interesting that it also has specific parasitic activity. Another activity which should be of great interest is that against Mosquitos, shown in Purple.

As it contains Limonene it also has ozone scavenging activity, so might be a useful plant to use in heavily polluted areas as a chelator of the air.

Inhaling herbal infusions of the plant without ingestion might also be useful if one is in pain or overwrought, as many of the chemicals have a sedative, anaesthetic and narcotic action.  As the plant has antiviral activity it may help if inhaled with viruses that attack the lungs. 

At one time the plant – at least a careful concoction of fruit and plant, was used for tooth problems.  We have an observation for this.  The plant does have several activities related to tooth and mouth problems, but one would have to be extremely careful how one used the concoction not to swallow it.

Fruit

 

Colocynth also has some quite interesting activity in its fruit.  It has very extensive antiviral and antibacterial activity, with activity against some very key viruses such as the adenoviruses, herpes, vaccinia viruses, hepatitis, HIV [shown in Turquoise] and EBV.  You would need to ensure the plant was not growing in a polluted site as it is a metal chelator [shown in yellow] meaning it could pick up heavy metals in the fruit, grown in a clean site it could chelate you.

Another fascinating aspect of the fruit is its activity on our reproductive system, shown in green.  For more details on how this works in plants see the sections - estrogen, androgen and progesterone.  After this you will be able to read the section on Phytoestrogens, which is what this plant contains, with more understanding.

Seed

The seeds are supposed to be - according to Wikipedia - "edible but bitter, nutty-flavored, and rich in fat and protein. They are eaten whole or used as an oilseed. The oil content of the seeds is 17–19% (w/w), consisting of 67–73% linoleic acid, 10–16% oleic acid, 5–8% stearic acid, and 9–12% palmitic acid."

The seed is something of a conundrum.  It is not totally without its problems.  The plant appears to want to encourage animals that will eat the fruit whole and disperse its seeds, not grind them up for oil or food as there are some unwanted activities in the seed, despite the presence of some important nutrients for us.  Go to Dr Duke's site for more details.

Chemicals and activities

 

The following extract from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases, lists the Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) -- Colocynth

Where no activity has been reported, the chemical is excluded.  The full list with all chemicals is available on Dr Duke’s site for those who are interested.  We have concentrated on only the activities related to pathogens – viruses, toxins such as heavy metals, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.  The other activity listed has a tendency to be a further benefit from the basic activity against the pathogens eg anti-dementia means the plant has the ability to fight whatever is causing the dementia.

In order to help we have grouped the chemicals by the part of the plant they refer to, this makes it easier to see which parts of the plant do what.

Seed

  • ALPHA-AMYRIN :    
  • LINOLEIC-ACID :
  • MYRISTIC-ACID :
  • MYRISTOLEIC-ACID :
  • PALMITIC-ACID :
  • PALMITOLEIC-ACID
  • OLEIC-ACID
  • STEARIC-ACID

Fruit

  • ALPHA-SPINASTEROL Fruit: Antiinflammatory
  • ASCORBIC-ACID Fruit 122 ppm;  - Vitamin C
  • CAFFEIC-ACID Fruit:  Analgesic; Antiadenoviral; Antibacterial; Antiescherichic; Antiflu; Antihepatotoxic; Antiherpetic 50 ug/ml EC50=>50 ug/ml; AntiHIV EC50=200 ug/ml; AntiLegionella; Antiseptic; Antistaphylococcic; Antivaccinia; Antiviral IC50=62.5 ug/ml; Fungicide MIC=0.4 mg/ml; Insectifuge; Metal-Chelator; Pesticide; Sedative 500 mg; Vulnerary
  • CHLOROGENIC-ACID Fruit: Antibacterial; AntiEBV; Antihepatotoxic; Antiherpetic; AntiHIV; Antiinflammatory; AntiLegionella; Antipolio; Antiseptic; Antiviral; Fungicide; Insectifuge; Larvistat; Metal-Chelator; Pesticide; Vulnerary
  • CITRULLINE Fruit:
  • COLOSIDE-A Fruit:
  • CUCURBITACIN-B Fruit: Antihepatotoxic; Antiinflammatory; Insectifuge; Insectiphile
  • CUCURBITACIN-E Fruit: Antihepatotoxic; Insectifuge; Insectiphile
  • CUCURBITACIN-L Fruit:
  • FERULIC-ACID Fruit: Analgesic; Antibacterial; Antidysmenorrheic; Antiestrogenic; Antihepatotoxic; Antiherpetic; Antiinflammatory; Antimitotic; Antiviral; Candidicide; Fungicide; Immunostimulant; Metal-Chelator; Phagocytotic; Preservative; Prostaglandigenic; Prostaglandin-Synthesis-Inhibitor 0.58-3.2 mM; Uterosedative 30-100 mg/kg ivn rat
  • GLUCOSE Fruit:
  • QUERCITRIN Fruit: Antibacterial; Anticataract; Antiflu; Antihepatotoxic; Antiherpetic; Antiinflammatory; Antistaphylococcic 0.412%; Antiviral; Insectiphile; Pesticide

Plant and petiole

  • ANETHOLE Petiole:  Antibacterial MBC=200 ug/ml; Antiinflammatory; Antisalmonella MIC=200 ug/ml; Antiseptic 200 ug/ml; Antiyeast; Candidicide; Fungicide; Insecticide; Irritant; Pesticide
  • ANISALDEHYDE Petiole:  Fungicide; Insecticide; Pesticide
  • BENZYL-ALCOHOL Petiole:  Anesthetic; Antiodontalgic; Antiseptic; Fungicide; Pesticide; Sedative
  • BETA-SITOSTEROL Plant:  Antibacterial; Antiviral; Artemicide LC50=110 ppm; Candidicide; Pesticide
  • BETA-SITOSTEROL-D-GLUCOSIDE Plant:  Convulsant
  • CAPRIC-ACID Petiole: Fungicide; Irritant; Pesticide
  • CITRAL Petiole:  Antibacterial; Antihelicobacter; Antiherpetic; Antiinflammatory; Antileishmanic; Antiseptic 5.2 x phenol; Antiviral; Fungicide MIC 625 ug/ml; Herbicide IC50=115 uM; Nematicide IC52=100 ug/ml MLC=100-260 ug/ml; Pesticide;  Trichomonicide LD100=150 ug/ml; Trypanocide
  • CITRONELLAL Plant: Acaricide; Antibacterial; Antiseptic 3.8 x phenol; Antistaphylococcic; Antistreptococcic; Candidicide; Embryotoxic; Fungicide; Insectifuge; Irritant; Nematicide MIC 1 mg/ml; Pesticide;
  • CITRONELLOL Plant: Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Antistaphylococcic; Antistreptococcic; Candidicide; Fungicide; Herbicide IC50=160 uM; Irritant; Nematicide MLC=100 ug/ml; Pesticide; Trichomonicide LD100=300 ug/ml
  • COLOCYNTHIN Plant: Purgative
  • DECANOIC-ACID Petiole: Nematicide; Pesticide
  • FRUCTOSE Petiole:
  • GERANYL-ACETATE Petiole: Allergenic; Insectiphile;
  • HEXANOIC-ACID Petiole:
  • LAURIC-ACID Petiole: Antibacterial; Antiviral; Candidicide; COX-1-Inhibitor IC40=100; COX-2-Inhibitor IC20=100;
  • LIMONENE Petiole: Acaricide LC100=8 uM; Antibacterial; Antiflu; Antiseptic; Antiviral; Candidistat; Fungiphilic; Fungistat; Herbicide IC50=45 uM; Insecticide 0.37 uM/fly; Insectifuge; Irritant; Nematicide IC=100 ug/ml; Ozone-Scavenger Pesticide; Photosensitizer
  • LUTEOLIN-7-O-GLUCOSIDE Plant:
  • METHYL-EUGENOL Plant: Anesthetic; Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Fungicide; Fungistat 100 ug/mL; Insectifuge; Narcotic; Nematicide MIC=1 mg/ml; Pesticide; Sedative
  • OCTANOIC-ACID Petiole: Candidicide; Fungicide; Pesticide
  • OLEANOLIC-ACID Plant: Abortifacient; Antibacterial MIC=625-1,250 ug/ml; Antigingivitic MIC=625-1,250 ug/ml; Antihepatotoxic; AntiHIV EC50=1.7 ug/ml IC50=21.8 ug/ml;  Antimalarial IC50=70-89 ug/ml; Antinephritic IC50=19-24 uM; Antiperiodontic MIC=625-1,250 ug/ml; Antiplaque MIC=625-1,250 ug/ml; Antiplasmodial IC50=70-89 ug/ml; Antiseptic MIC=625-1,250 ug/ml; Antiviral EC50=1.7 ug/ml IC50=21.8 ug/ml; Sedative
  • P-CYMENE Petiole: Analgesic; Antibacillary; Antibacterial; Antiflu; Antiviral; Fungicide; Herbicide IC50=50 uM; Insectifuge; Irritant; Laxative; Pesticide; Sedative; Trichomonicide LD100=50 ug/ml
  • PHENETHYL-ALCOHOL Plant: Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Pesticide; Sedative

 

Related observations

Healing observations

In time

Synaesthesia, Pure or enhanced perception, Inter composer communication, Vision, Dream, Perception recall, Exploring group perception