Chinese Cucumber

Trichosanthes kirilowii

Physical Characteristics

Trichosanthes kirilowii is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 6 m (19ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Mongolia, Vietnam.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Oil Oil Root Shoots Edible Uses: Oil Oil Fruit[183]. The young fruits are pickled[177]. The pulp of older fruits is eaten[179]. Mature fruits are about 10cm long[200]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a vegetable[177, 183]. An edible starch is obtained from the root[183]. It requires leeching[179], which probably means that it has a bitter flavour[K]. The root is harvested in the autumn, cut into thick slices, soaked for 4 - 5 days in water, changing the water daily until the root disintegrates and can be mashed into a fine pulp. It is then steamed into cakes or used for making dumplings[177, 178, 179]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Antibiotic Anticholesterolemic Antifungal Antiinflammatory Antitussive Cancer Cholera Depurative Emollient Expectorant Febrifuge Galactogogue Laxative Oxytoxic Sialagogue Skin Uterine tonic Vulnerary This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[218]. Recent research has isolated a protein called 'trichosanthin' in the roots and this is undergoing trials as a possible remedy for AIDS[238]. Skin, vulnerary[174, 178]. The leaf and the stem are febrifuge[218]. The fruit is antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antifungal, depurative, emollient, expectorant and laxative[147, 174, 176, 178, 238]. It is used in the treatment of pulmonary infections with yellow and thick sputum, chest pains, stuffy feelings in the chest, constipation and dry stool[176]. It has an antibacterial action against E. coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, B. paratyphi, Pseudomonas, Vibrio cholerae, V. Proteus etc[176]. The fruit is traditionally prepared as a winter soup to ward off colds and influenza[238]. The fruit is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238]. The rind of the fruit is used to treat a number of ailments, including cancer, jaundice, retained placenta, bronchial infections with thick phlegm and sore throat[176, 218, 238]. The seed is antitussive, emollient and expectorant[218]. The root is antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, oxytocic, sialagogue and uterine tonic[147, 174, 176, 178, 218, 238]. The fresh root has been noted for centuries as an abortifacient - a sponge soaked in its juice was placed in the vagina and induced an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy[218]. The root is taken internally in the treatment of diabetes, dry coughs, and to assist in the second stage of labour[176, 238]. The root is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[238]. The root and/or the seed is powdered and used in the treatment of mammary cancer[218]. One website user has noted that Trichosanthes kirilowii is an 'important Chinese medicinal plant of which the whole fruit, seeds, rind, AND tuberous-rhizome are all used regularly in medicine. While certain types of extracts may be toxic and the raw/unprocessed root may be toxic, to state unequivocally that the root is toxic is to err.'

Known Hazards

Root extracts are extremely toxic. Intravenous administration can cause pulmonary oedema, cerebral oedema, cerebral haemorrhage and myocardial damage. Seizures and fever in HIV patients with parenteral administration. Self-medication of root not advised [301].