Ivy Gourd

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Calabacita, Calabaza Hiedra, Coccinia cordifolia, Coccinia grandis, Coccinia indica, Coccinia Índica, Courge Écarlate, Kovai, Little Gourd, Tela Kucha, Tindola.

Overview

Ivy gourd is a plant. The leaves, root, and fruit are used to make medicine.

People take ivy gourd for diabetes, gonorrhea, and constipation.

Some people apply ivy gourd leaves directly to the skin for wounds.

Ivy gourd fruit and leaves are used as a vegetable in India and other Asian countries.

How does it work?

Ivy gourd contains chemicals that may reduce blood sugar levels.

SLIDESHOW

Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See Slideshow

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for...

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of ivy gourd for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Ivy gourd is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth for up to 6 weeks. There isn't enough information to know if ivy gourd is safe for longer-term use.

QUESTION

Next to red peppers, you can get the most vitamin C from ________________. See Answer

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking ivy gourd if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Ivy gourd might lower blood sugar. If you have diabetes and use ivy gourd, check your blood sugar carefully.

Surgery: Ivy gourd might lower blood sugar. There is some concern it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using ivy gourd at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions


Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Ivy gourd might lower blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking ivy gourd along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of ivy gourd depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for ivy gourd. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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References

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Venkateswaran, S., Pari, L., Suguna, L., and Chandrakasan, G. Modulatory effect of Coccinia indica on aortic collagen in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2003;30(3):157-163. View abstract.

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Dhanabal SP, Koate CK, Ramanathan M, et al. The hypoglycemic activity of Coccinia indica Wight & Arn. and its influence on certain biochemical parameters. Indian J Pharmacol 2004;36:249-250.

Eshrat MH. Effect of Coccinia indica (L.) and Abroma augsta (L.) on glycemia, lipid profile and on indicators of end-organ damage in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Indian J Clin Biochem 2003;18:54-63.

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Khan AK, AKhtar S, Mahtab H. Treatment of diabetes mellitus with Coccinia indica. Br Med J 1980;280:1044.

Kumar GP, Sudheesh S, Vijayalakshmi NR. Hypoglycaemic effect of Coccinia indica: mechanism of action. Planta Med 1993;59:330-2. View abstract.

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Shibib BA, Khan LA, Rahman R. Hypoglycaemic activity of Coccinia indica and Momordica charantia in diabetic rats: depression of the hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and elevation of both liver and red-cell shunt enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Biochem J 1993;292:267-70. View abstract.

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