Vol. 8, Issue - 2, Part A (2024)

Anjum Parveen, Dr. Mohd. Nauman Saleem and Dr. Asif Iqbal Siddiqui

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33545/2616454X.2024.v8.i2a.279

Abstract:
In the Unani medical system, medications derived from plants have been essential for both disease prevention and treatment. Because of their inexpensive cost and little side effects, these medications are growing in popularity. Kaddu, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is one such medication. Consuming kaddu, a popular salad vegetable, provides numerous health advantages. Since they can withstand high temperatures rather than cold, cucurbits are a significant and diverse category of vegetable crops that are widely grown in warm subtropical and tropical regions as well as situations with lots of water. But during blossoming, it can withstand frost and dryness alike. It is an important herbal drug and various parts of the drug such as fruit, fruit stalk, kernel, seeds are used medicinally to alleviate several ailments, such as Musakkin (Analgesic), Mubarrid (Refrigent), Mudire bol(Diuretic), Dafe hararat (anti pyretic) Dafe tashannuj (Antispasmodic), Musakkine auja (Analgesic), Musakkine atash (Thirst relieve) etc. It is also used as preventive treatment during epidemic /pandemic spread and also play a role of very useful nutritional material. Several activities such as sedative, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant have been validated. These activities may occur due to the presence of chemical constituents like tannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, carbohydrates, resins, polysaccharides, para-aminobenzoic acid, fixed oils, sterols, proteins, peptides saponins, carotenoids and phytosterols. Kaddu can potentially act as a strong traditional herbal drug due to its multiple pharmacological effects and is therefore generating interest in drug discovery and development of formulations. The present review provides a summary of recent knowledge of significant traditional uses, phytochemical, and pharmacological activities of various parts of the plant.