Mukia maderaspatana (PROSEA)
Introduction |
Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M.J. Roemer
- Protologue: Fam. nat. syn. monogr. 2: 47 (1846).
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= 22
Synonyms
Mukia scabrella (L.) Arnott (1841), Melothria maderaspatana (L.) Cogn. (1881).
Vernacular names
- Philippines: melon-gubat (Tagalog)
- Thailand: taneng nuu
- Vietnam: cầu qua ấn.
Origin and geographic distribution
M. maderaspatana occurs throughout tropical Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands, tropical and subtropical Asia and tropical Australia.
Uses
In Thailand the ground root of M. maderaspatana is applied to the gums to relieve toothache, and a decoction is used as an antiflatulent. The young shoots are taken for the treatment of hepatitis, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, bile duct inflammation, bronchitis and asthma. A decoction of the seed is used as a sudorific. The fixed oil from the seed is topically applied to relieve muscular pain. In Taiwan a decoction of the flowers and root is used as a poison antidote, anodyne and to treat stomach-ache. M. maderaspatana is traditionally used for the treatment and control of diabetes mellitus among different tribal groups and rural populations in India. In southern India the leaves are fried and eaten as a vegetable to improve resistance and health. Leaves ground into a paste are given orally as a potent antifertility agent. In East Africa the plant is given to women in labour in order to hasten the childbirth, and cooked leaves may also be eaten as an abortifacient.
Leaf juice of Mukia javanica (Miq.) C. Jeffrey was recorded long ago as a traditional remedy in the Moluccas to treat thrush in children. It was also used as part of a treatment to clear opacity of the cornea.
Properties
Treatment with an aqueous extract of the aerial parts of M. maderaspatana , before or after CCl4administration in rats, markedly decreased CCl4mediated alterations in liver histopathology as well as serum enzyme levels. These results provide supportive evidence for the traditional use as a hepatotonic.
Investigation of the effects of aqueous extracts of whole plants of M. maderaspatana on the human immune system revealed strong anticomplement activity on both the classical and alternative pathways of the human complement system in vitro.
Botany
A monoecious, perennial, herbaceous scrambler or climber up to 4 m long; stem finely grooved, covered with erecto-patent hairs, climbing by simple, shaggy tendrils. Leaves alternate, simple, usually 3-5-lobed, broadly ovate, triangular to sagittate in outline, 1-10 cm × 1-11 cm, base variably cordate, apex acuminate, sinuate to dentate, variably hairy above and beneath; petiole 2-9 cm long, covered with erecto-patent hairs; stipules absent. Inflorescence an axillary fascicle; male flowers 2-20 together, female flowers 2-4 together or solitary. Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous, bright yellow; calyx campanulate or subcylindrical; corolla gamopetalous, with ovate-oblong lobes, 1.5-4 mm × 1-2 mm; male flowers with short pedicel, 3 stamens and a pistillode; female flowers subsessile, with inferior, ovoid ovary, densely clothed with very long, thin, soft hairs. Fruit a globose berry 5-13 mm in diameter, clothed with long fugacious hairs, at first green with pale longitudinal bands, turning red, 4-8-seeded. Seeds ovate-oblong, 3.5-5 mm × 2-3 mm × 1-2 mm, conspicuously verrucose, margined.
M. maderaspatana can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
Mukia is placed in the subtribe Melothiirnae of the tribe Melothriae and is closely related to e.g. Cucumis . Mukia can be distinguished by its small monoecious flowers, usually fascicled in the leaf axils, its small subsessile baccate fruits often produced in clusters, and its tumid seeds. M. maderaspatana shows considerable differentiation over its range into local variants, differing, for example, in number of seeds, seed size and shape, habit and size of plant, number of flowers and petal length. The most frequent variant, however, can be found throughout most parts of the range of the species and seems in fact to have a rather weedy nature. Sometimes these variants are raised to species rank.
Ecology
M. maderaspatana is found on a wide range of soils in relatively open, often disturbed habitats from sea-level up to 1500 m altitude.
Genetic resources
M. maderaspatana is widespread and often occurs in disturbed habitats. It is not threatened by genetic erosion.
Prospects
Little is known on the pharmacological activities of M. maderaspatana . However, the information available supports the traditional uses to treat liver diseases and as a tonic. Although it is not known to be used medicinally in the Malesian region, it might be interesting, and therefore more research is desirable.
Literature
173, 250, 419, 425, 766, 923.
Other selected sources
62, 334, 380, 418, 499, 731, 760.
Main genus page
Authors
Mariana Raini