Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (= Cephalandra indica (Wight & Arn.) Naudin; Coccinia indica Wight & Arn.)

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 58-59

Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt (= Cephalandra indica (Wight & Arn.) Naudin; Coccinia indica Wight & Arn.)

Names.

Myanmar: kinmon, kin pone, hla cawi bactine (Mon), taw-kinmon. English: ivy gourd, wild snake gourd.

Range.

Africa, temperate and tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific. Found growing wild throughout Myanmar; found growing up trees and hedges.

Uses.

Of the two kinds of kin pone, bitter and sweet, the bitter kind is the most used in medicines. All five parts (root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit) are employed. Whole plant: The liquid from the whole boiled plant is well-known as an effective expectorant. Fruit: The bitter fruit, known for cooling and laxative properties, is considered good for phlegm and bile. Leaf: The astringent and bitter leaves stimulate nerves and promote growth. The green leaves are stir-fried and eaten by diabetics. Leaves boiled with equal parts of coriander seeds are used in deworming preparations and as a laxative. They are also used in medicines to treat bile problems and lung ailments. The juice is applied frequently on cold sores to cure them. Fruit: Used to promote lactation in new mothers, to alleviate gas and blood diseases, and to treat asthma and bronchitis. Root: Can be used to reduce fever and to treat diarrhea.

Notes.

The medicinal uses of this species in India are discussed in Jain and DeFilipps (1991). Perry (1980) discusses the medicinal uses of this species in Indo-China and Indonesia.

References.

Nordal (1963), Agricultural Corporation (1980).