Medicinal herbs of Chhattisgarh, India having less known traditional uses XXXXVI. Kalinder (Citrullus lantatus, family : Cucurbitaceae)

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

The natives of Chhattisgarh are well aware of cool and refreshing fruits of Kalinder. Every year it is available in summer season. In Chhattisgarh, during summer the temperature goes very high, Kalinder is one of the fruits available in hot summer that helps the natives in fighting against hot wind and sunstroke. Kalinder is under cultivation in Chhattisgarh. The river belts are suitable for its commercial cultivation Kalinder is a climbing or trailing hispid annual. As not much work have been done on its genetic improvement, the growers are growing old varieties or improved varieties collected from neighboring states. The Kalinder fruits growing in different location possess different levels of sweetness. Like Foot fruits, the traders also use sweet solutions to make all fruits more sweet.

This malpractice is common in almost all Kalinder growing areas of Chhattisgarh. For the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, all parts of Kalinder are valuable in terms of medicinal properties and uses. But I have noted during my ethnobotanical surveys that very few healers are aware of its medicinal uses. Before describing these traditional uses common in Chhattisgarh, I am giving details regarding its botany. According to reference literatures, Kalinder is annual herb with angular villous stems, Leaves 8-20 x 5-15 cm triangular - ovate, cordate, trifid, lobes pinnatifid, terminal lobe acute, others round, tendrils bifid; male flowers : Peduncles elongate, villous, calyx tube broadly campanulate, villous , corolla greenish, villous, lobes ovate - oblong, obtuse; Female flowers : Peduncles 2-6 cm long, calyx and corolla as in male flowers, ovary oblong; Fruits large, sub globose or ellipsoid, smooth, green or variegated; Seeds black, red or variable; Flowering and fruiting times April - July in Chhattisgarh conditions.

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh informed me that on the day of its use as fruit one must avoid the take rice in any form. According to them, it is wrong and harmful combination. This use can results in many serious health problems. Unfortunately, most of the natives are not aware of this bare fact. During summer, the natives use both rice (as meals) and Kalinder (in between meals) fruits. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the seeds of Kalinder in treatment of insanity. The seeds are collected and converted into small pieces. Two teaspoonful of seed pieces are dipped in a cup of water overnight. Next morning the seed pieces are collected and with sugar, ghee and Kali Mirch ( Black Pipper), the combination is given to the patients empty stomach. According to the traditional healers, its regular use help the patients by eliminating the extra heat from the head. This treatment is considered as one of the promising treatments. In general, the traditional healers use the fruits in treatment of troubles common in summer season. The traditional healers of Narharpur region, use to whole herb of Kalinder in treatment of piles externally. They burn the dry herb and the patients are advised to expose the affected parts in fumes. This use is very popular among the traditional healers of this region. The above mentioned traditional uses are although less in number but these are promising uses. Through the on-going surveys, I am trying to collect more information. This herb in native to Africa. Possibly this is the reason, the traditional healers are less aware of its traditional medicinal uses.

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