Citrullus colocynthis
Citrullus colocynthis
Citrullus colocynthis, also known as bitter apple, desert gourd, or wild gourd, is a perennial plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae.
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of Citrullus colocynthis is /sɪˈtrʌləs kəˈlɒsɪnθɪs/.
Etymology
The genus name Citrullus is derived from the Latin word citrullus, meaning "small citrus fruit". The species name colocynthis comes from the Greek kolokynthos, which refers to a type of cucumber.
Description
Citrullus colocynthis is a desert viny plant that produces a fruit similar in appearance to a small watermelon. The fruit is extremely bitter and is not edible. It is native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, and has been naturalized in other parts of the world, including the Americas and Australia.
Medical Uses
In traditional medicine, Citrullus colocynthis has been used for a variety of ailments. The fruit, seeds, and root are used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people take Citrullus colocynthis for diabetes, asthma, and constipation. It is also used for increasing urine production (as a diuretic) to relieve water retention, and for treating cancer.
Related Terms
- Cucurbitaceae: The plant family to which Citrullus colocynthis belongs.
- Diuretic: A substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine.
- Traditional medicine: Systems of medicine developed before the era of modern medicine, based on cultural beliefs and practices handed down from generation to generation.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Citrullus colocynthis
- Wikipedia's article - Citrullus colocynthis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski