The ivy gourd plant belongs to the cucumber family. This vegetable is native to India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam. All species of Coccinia belong to the gourd Family (Cucurbitacea).
The scarlet fruited ivies are very hardy plants tolerant cold temperature and dry soil conditions. They grow rapidly, producing large numbers of small fruits within one season. It is easy to grow and maintain. It grows well in most soil conditions. Growing them from cuttings is easier and cheaper.
Ivy Gourd is an easy to grow vegetable that will produce well in most climates. Ivy gourds are great for pickling, cooking, juicing, and eating raw.
Ivy gourd has long been used in traditional chinese medicine to treat diabetes. A study published in the journal Food Chemistry found that extracts from the plant contain compounds that may help lower blood sugar levels. Glycosides are chemicals that occur naturally in plants and are known to inhibit glucose6-phosphate synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of glycogen. This could potentially explain why ivy gourd helps control blood sugar levels.
Ivy gourd is one of the most popular vegetables in India. This vegetable is very useful in treating several diseases like diabetes, hypertension, kidney stones etc. It is rich in nutrients such as fiber, protein, iron, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, niacin, folate, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid and selenium. Ivy gourd is considered as superfood because it provides essential vitamins and minerals.
The fruit of this plant contains saponins and tannins. These compounds act as diuretics and antiseptics. The leaves of this plant contain glycosides and flavonoids. Glycosides are found in the roots of this plant. Flavonoids are present in the fruits of this plant. The flowers of this plant contain alkaloids. Alkaloids are responsible for the bitter taste of this plant.
Uses of Ivy Gourd
- The roots of the ivy are known to cure many diseases. They can be used to treat burns, cuts, bruises, insect bites, and even bedwetting.
- The leaves of the ivies can be applied directly to wounds to stop bleeding. The fruit of the ivys can be cooked like any other vegetable.
- The seeds are used to treat diarrhea.
- The leaves are useful in curing pneumonia.
- The bark of this plant is used to cure malaria.
- The flowers of this plants are used to treat tuberculosis.
- It helps in the treatment of fever, cough, cold, dysentery, bleeding disorders, asthma, arthritis, ulcers, kidney stone, and liver problems.
- It is also helpful in weight loss.
- Ivy gourd contains betacarotene which helps prevent cancer. It is rich in antioxidants, which help protect against cancer.
- Ivy gourds have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes.
Dr. Vandana K.
Mti wa ivy gourd ni wa familia ya matango. Mboga hii ni asili ya India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam. Spishi zote za Coccinia ni za familia ya gourd (Cucurbitacea). Mimea yenye matunda mekundu ni yenye nguvu sana na huvumilia joto baridi na udongo kavu. Mimea hiyo hukua haraka, na hutoa matunda mengi madogo katika msimu mmoja tu. Ni rahisi kukuza na kutunza. Mti huo hukua vizuri katika hali nyingi za udongo. Ni rahisi na nafuu kuzilima kutokana na vichaka. Mchuzi wa Ivy ni mboga rahisi kukuza ambayo itazaa vizuri katika hali ya hewa nyingi. Mchuzi wa Ivy ni mzuri sana kwa ajili ya kuchemsha, kupika, kutengeneza maji, na kula bila kupikwa. Kwa muda mrefu, mchuzi wa Ivy umetumiwa katika dawa za jadi za Kichina kutibu ugonjwa wa kisukari. Uchunguzi uliochapishwa katika jarida la Food Chemistry uligundua kwamba dondoo za mmea huo zina kemikali zinazoweza kupunguza kiwango cha sukari katika damu. Glycosides ni kemikali zinazopatikana kwa asili katika mimea na zinajulikana kuzuia glucose-6-phosphate synthase, enzyme inayohusika katika uzalishaji wa glycogen. Hilo laweza kueleza kwa nini mchuzi wa ivy husaidia kudhibiti kiwango cha sukari katika damu. Mchuzi wa Ivy ni mojawapo ya mboga zinazopendwa sana nchini India. Mboga hii ni muhimu sana katika kutibu magonjwa kadhaa kama vile kisukari, shinikizo la damu, mawe ya figo nk. Ni tajiri katika virutubisho kama vile nyuzi, protini, chuma, kalsiamu, beta-carotene, vitamini A, B1, B2, C, potasiamu, magnesiamu, fosforasi, zinki, shaba, manganese, niacin, folate, riboflavin, thiamine, asidi pantothenic na selenium. Mchuzi wa Ivy huonwa kuwa chakula kizuri sana kwa sababu hutoa vitamini na madini muhimu. Matunda ya mmea huo yana saponini na tannini. Viungo hivyo hufanya kazi kama dawa za kuondoa umajimaji na dawa za kuua vimelea. Majani ya mmea huo yana glycosides na flavonoids. Glycosides hupatikana katika mizizi ya mmea huu. Flavonoidi zipo katika matunda ya mmea huo. Maua ya mmea huo yana alkaloidi. Alkaloidi ndizo husababisha ladha kali ya mmea huo. Matumizi ya Ivy Gourd - Mizizi ya Ivy inajulikana kutibu magonjwa mengi. Zinaweza kutumiwa kutibu majeraha ya kuchomwa moto, kukatwa, kuharibiwa na wadudu, na hata kuoga kitandani. - Majani ya mti huo yanaweza kutumiwa moja kwa moja kwenye majeraha ili kuzuia damu isitirike. Matunda ya vichaka vyaweza kupikwa kama mboga nyingine yoyote. - Mbegu hizo hutumiwa kutibu kuhara. - Majani yake ni yenye manufaa katika kutibu nimonia. - Jani la mmea huu hutumiwa kutibu malaria. - Maua ya mmea huu hutumiwa kutibu kifua kikuu. - Inasaidia katika matibabu ya homa, kikohozi, homa, dysentery, matatizo ya kutokwa na damu, pumu, arthritis, vidonda, jiwe la figo, na matatizo ya ini. - Pia husaidia kupunguza uzito. - Ivy gourd ina betacarotene ambayo husaidia kuzuia kansa. Ni tajiri katika viuavijasumu, ambavyo husaidia kulinda dhidi ya kansa. - Kwa muda mrefu, matango ya Ivy yametumiwa katika tiba ya kitamaduni ya Kichina kutibu ugonjwa wa kisukari. Dakt. Vandana K.