Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses. XXXXV . Foot (Cucumis melo family : Cucurbitaceae)

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh frequently use the fruit peel of Foot in treatment of Pathri (Renal Calculi). Its use is considered as one of the promising treatment. It reduces the pain and also flushes out the stones. The peels are collected and dried in shade. After drying it is converted into powder. Three teaspoonful of powder is boiled in a glass of water and decoction is prepared. This decoction is given twice a day till complete relief. The healers also add sugar in this decoction for taste. Foot is a creeping, hispid annual, native to Africa but now it is under cultivation throughout India. In Chhattisgarh. It is cultivated in river belts. It is a fruit of summer season. The natives consume Foot fruits for its delicious taste. They are aware that the intake of this fruit helps in protection against hot winds "Loo" common in summer season. This fruit is one of the common fruits liked by the children. Very few traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are aware of its medicinal properties and uses . They instruct the natives to consume Kalinder in less quantity . The quantity consumed over 1.5 kg. Can cause many harmful effects. Unfortunately most of the natives are not aware of this fact. They also suggest to consume sweet sherbets after eating Foot. According to them, it helps in its proper digestion.

I have observed that the Kalinder fruits coming from different locations for sell in Chhattisgarh markets, differ in taste. Many fruits are very sweet whereas others are less sweet. The traditional healers prefer the less sweet fruits as medicine whereas the natives prefer sweet fruits. Now a days, in markets, only sweet fruits are increasing and coming for sale. The natives give its credit to advanced research on Horticultural crops but we are aware that the sellers are making it sweet by piercing sugar solution through syringes. Through my articles at regional languages, I am trying to aware the common natives about this malpractice. I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses, I have noted from the reference literatures. Botanically, Foot is robust annuals; Leaves 8-15 cm long, almost equally broad, 5-angular or moderately 3-7 lobed, lobes obtuse, sub-orbicular, denticulate, base cordate, villose or sub-hirsute; male flowers fasciculate, peduncle slender, 5-30 cm long, calyx-tube narrow, campanulate, villose 3 lobes subulate, erect or spreading; Female flowers with peduncles 1-2 cm long, ovary softly hairy, style 1-2mm long, stigma connivent ; Fruits Polymorphous; Seeds oblong, white, obtuse at apex, base sub acute; Flowering May-July and Fruiting June to October in Chhattisgarh conditions. According to Ayurveda, unripe fruit is sour whereas ripe fruit is sweet, oily, wholesome, cooling, fattening, tonic, laxative, aphrodisiac, diuretic, biliousness, insanity, ascites etc. According to Unani system of Medicine, fruit is tonic, laxative, galactagogue, diuretic, diaphoretic, strengthens heart, brain and body, cures ophthalmia, urinary discharges. Seeds are used in treatment of liver and kidney troubles, bronchitis, chronic fever and thirst. Unfortunately, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are not aware of these medicinal uses of Foot. This is the reason I have kept this herb in the category of herbs having less known traditional uses. Very few healers use the seeds and seed oil as medicines Through the ethnobotanical surveys, I am trying my best to gather more information on this aspect.

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