Phytochemical, Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Profile of Lagenaria siceraria: - A Review

In traditional systems of medicine, different parts (leaves, stem, flower, root, seeds and even whole plant) of Lagenaria siceraria (known as lauki in Hindi), has been used in the ointment for ailment of various diseases throughout India. The fruit of cultivated Lagenaria siceraria is the good source of different nutrients components like protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium. The plant has also been suggested to possess antioxidant activity, laxative, cardioprotective, diuretic, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, central nervous system stimulant, anthelmintic, antihypertensive, immunosuppressive analgesic, adaptogenic and free radical scavenging activity. This work reviews the pharmacological evidence of extracts of plants from the Lagenaria siceraria, giving an overview of the most studied biological effects and the known phytochemical composition. Although more studies are necessary, Lagenaria siceraria exhibits proven potential to become of important pharmacological interest. Keyword: Lagenaria Siceraria, Cucurbitaceae, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activity.