horticulture

1. CULTIVATION PRACTICES
OF SMALL GOURD
BIBASWANMOHANTY
Adm. No. 95A/11

2. SMALL GOURD

3. SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Coccinia
Species: C. grandis
Binomial name
Coccinia grandis

4. INTRODUCTION
Coccinia grandis, the ivy gourd, also
known as baby watermelon, little
gourd,gentleman's toes, or sometimes
inaccurately identified as gherkin, is a
tropical Vine. It is also known
as Cephalandra indica and Coccinia
indica.

5. Roots stems leaves are used to cure skin
disease bronchitis on diabetes.Fresh juice
from leaves is administered for diabetes.The
plant reduces the amount of sugar in the
urine and improve the general metabolism
patient.The parts of the plants (leaves and
roots) are used in the treatment of diabetes
even when insulin has failed.
Immature green fruits bitter due to the
present cucurbitacin B reduces during
ripening. Plant is dioecious.Fruit is pepo.

13. Land preparation
Cleared off all weeds. Pandal should be erected as
when the cutting start with vegetative growth.
Planting is done at 2 to 3 m on either side.Pits are
dug up size 30 to 45 cm3 they are filled with 5 kg of
well decomposed FYM, ½ kg of neem cake, little
quantity of SSP along with top soil. Rooted cuttings
are planted in the centre of the pit while planting 5
to 10% vines should be of male type they should be
uniformly planted in the Orchard. It is a dioecious as
well as parthinocarpy.

28. MEDICIANAL VALUE
In traditional medicine, fruits have been used
to treat leprosy, fever, asthma, bronchitis, and
jaundice. The fruit possesses mast-cell-
stabilizing, anti anaphylactic, and
antihistaminic potential. In Bangladesh, the
roots are used to treat osteoarthritis and joint
pain. A paste made of leaves is applied to the
skin to treat scabies .

30. MEDICIANAL VALUE
Ivy gourd extracts and other forms of the plant can be
purchased online and in health food stores. These products
are claimed to help regulate blood sugar levels. Some
research supports that compounds in the plant
inhibit glucose-6-phosphatase. Glucose-6-phosphatase is one
of the key liver enzymes involved in regulating sugar
metabolism. Therefore, ivy gourd is sometimes
recommended for diabetic patients. Although these claims
have not been supported, a fair amount of research on the
medicinal properties of this plant are focusing on its use as an
antioxidant, antihypoglycemic agent, immune system
modulator, etc. Some countries in Asia, such as Thailand,
prepare traditional tonic-like drinks for medicinal purposes.