Fluted Gourd/Telfairia occidentalis is a tropical vine grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and for its edible seeds. Common names for the plant include fluted gourd, fluted pumpkin, ugu (in the Igbo language), and ikong-ubong (in the Efik and Ibibio languages). T. occidentalis is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae and is indigenous to southern Nigeria.[rx] The fluted gourd grows in many nations of West Africa but is mainly cultivated in southeastern Nigeria and it is used primarily in soups and herbal medicines.[rx] Although the fruit is inedible the seeds produced by the gourd are high in protein and fat, and can, therefore, contribute to a well-balanced diet. The plant is a drought-tolerant, dioecious perennial that is usually grown trellised.
T. occidentalis is traditionally used by an estimated 30 to 35 million people indigenous people in Nigeria, including the Efik, Ibibio, and Urhobo.[rx] However, it is predominantly used by the Igbo ethnic group, who continue to cultivate the gourd for food sources and traditional medicines.[rx] A recurring subject in the Igbo’s folklore, the fluted gourd is noted to have healing properties and was used as a blood tonic, to be administered to the weak or ill.[rx] It is endemic to southern Nigeria, and was an asset to international food trades of the Igbo ethnic group.[rx]
| Fluted Gourd Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Fluted Gourd |
| Scientific Name: | Telfairia occidentalis |
| Origin | West Africa, but is mainly cultivated in Igboland and Calabarland |
| Colors | Green when young then turns yellow upon ripening and whitish when completely ripe |
| Shapes | Drooping, ellipsoid berry 40–95 cm long and 20–50 cm wide |
| Health benefits | Improves Memory, Improves Blood Production, Treat Convulsion, Improves the Bones and Teeth, Boost Immune System, Prevents Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia, Reduces Stress, Helps Nursing Mother, Prevents Kidney Diseases, Prevents Diabetes, Treats Malaria, Treats Cardiovascular Diseases, Treatment of Infertility, Prevents Cancer, Good for the digestive system, Treats Anemia, Blood purifier |
The plant is a drought-tolerant, dioecious perennial that is usually grown trellised. It is one of the most commonly consumed leafy vegetables in Nigeria, used both for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is popularly called ugu in Igboland and ikong-ubong in the Efik/Ibibio language, where the young shoots and leaves are the main ingredient of Nigerian editing ikong soup. The fruits are not edible but consist of edible seeds that are high in protein and fat. Seeds can be eaten whole, ground into powder, or made into a fermented porridge. Seed oil is used in cooking. Young shoots and leaves of female plants of this species are consumed as vegetables. Medicinally, the plant is used for convulsion, malaria, anemia, and cardiovascular diseases.
Plant Description
Fluted Gourd is an herbaceous, ribbed, glabrous, pubescent, perennial vine shrub that climbs by means of bifid and tendrils which are usually coiled. The plant normally grows about 15 meters or more long. The plant is found growing in the lowland rain forest, riversides, rain-forest, secondary forest, forest edges, possibly often as a relic of former cultivation. The plant prefers humus-rich, moist and fertile soil. The plant consists of a root, stem, leaves, fruit, and seed. The stem has five ridges often covered with multi-cellular hairs, especially when young. The leaves of the plant are compound, usually, 3-5 foliate, with blades and petioles also covered with multicellular hairs.
Flower and fruits
Flowers are 5-merous, cream-colored, pedicel up to 4 cm long, receptacle campanulate, sepals triangular, up to 5 mm long, petals are free, oblong, fringed. Male flowers are with 3 stamens, two 4-locular and one 2-locular, with large reddish connective. Female flowers are similar to male flowers but with inferior, cylindrical, 3-celled ovary and 3 large, heart-shaped stigmas. Fertile flowers are followed by drooping, ellipsoid berries that are 40–95 cm long and 20–50 cm wide. The fruits are initially green when young then turn yellow upon ripening and whitish when ripe. Normally the fruits weigh up to 6 kg. The seeds are embedded within a bright-yellow fibrous endocarp (flesh). Seeds are compressed ovoid, up to 4.5 cm long, black or brown-red colored, and asymmetrically ovate in outline.
Health benefits of Fluted Gourd
Listed below are a few of the popular health benefits of fluted gourd
1. Blood purifier
Fluted Pumpkin is supposed to have blood-purifying properties and it has been used as a tonic for the young and old alike. Amazingly though, the roots are poisonous for human consumption.
2. Treats Anemia
Fluted pumpkin leaves are a rich source of iron nutrients and will help in preventing the occurrence of anemia. Also, due to the presence of haematinic properties of the Ugu leaves, it will result in positive effects to treat anemia. Therefore, if you suffer from anemia, consuming fluted pumpkin leaves regularly may help you as an alternative and natural medical treatment.
3. Good for the digestive system
Leaves, shoots, and seeds of the Fluted Pumpkin are rich in dietary fiber containing an amazing array of Vitamins, which are essential for building our tissues to repair scars. Apart from this, the gel-like substance formed by the water-soluble fiber helps in slowing down the passage of food through the intestines thus helping in proper digestion and bowel movements.
4. Prevents Cancer
Since cancer has been stated as the leading disease which causes the death in the world, then we should find a way to prevent and treat this kind of chronic disease. The presence of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in fluted pumpkin leaves will help to prevent cancer. Also, leaves consist of chlorophyll, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, and phytosterols, which possess chemo-suppressive properties, then the leaves are appreciated to prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body.
5. Treatment of Infertility
Fluted pumpkin seed oil can be used for treating infertility in males by boosting the functionality of the testicles for an increased sperm count. This is as a result of the high level of anti-oxidative properties such as oleic acid, vitamin A, alkaloids, tannins and linoleic acid in the oil that contains the lipid peroxidation activities thus boosting fertility. Moreover, vitamin A is a powerful vitamin for protecting the testis against lipid peroxidation, thus improving spermatogenesis and structural differentiation of epithelial cells of the epididymis.
6. Treats Cardiovascular Diseases
Fluted pumpkin leaves also play an important role in providing the natural treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, if you suffer from cardiovascular diseases, then consuming fluted pumpkin leaves regularly is something that should be taken into account.
7. Treats Malaria
It is known that fluted pumpkin leaves have a role to be anti-malaria properties. As a result, this benefit is related to the presence of anti-plasmodial and schizonticisal properties contained in Ugu leaves. Also, by having these properties, they are capable of treating parasitic malaria infection.
8. Prevents Diabetes
Researchers have shown that consuming fluted pumpkin leaves, it will help to prevent diabetes. Indeed, the aqueous leaf extract of Ugu acts as anti-diabetic properties which help to reduce and regulate the glucose level of diabetic patients. Additionally, this great benefit is also associated to the presence of ethyl acetate and polysaccharides content which are anti-diabetic properties of the leaves.
9. Prevents Kidney Diseases
The presence of a high level of phosphorus in fluted pumpkin leaves will help to prevent kidney diseases. As the consequence, phosphorus will help to prevent the presence of kidney stones as well as maintain the work of the kidney greatly.
10. Helps Nursing Mother
Another health benefits of fluted pumpkin leaves are the way they offer lactating properties. Therefore, by having lactating properties, it will help nursing mothers to produce more milk for the baby.
11. Reduces Stress
Consuming fluted pumpkin leaves will help to reduce stress and depression as well. This benefit is connected to the presence of antioxidant nutrients such as tocopherol, dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbic acid contained in Ugu leaves. Then, if you face some hard days, it is recommended to have fluted pumpkin leaves as your food option.
12. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Hearing about Alzheimer’s disease may make you worry about having this kind of disease. However, by consuming fluted pumpkin leaves, then you should not worry again as the leaves consist of certain antioxidant compounds that can prevent the enzymes involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
13. Boost Immune System
Fluted pumpkin leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals and have shown positive results to be immune system boosters. Also, as the leaves consist of antioxidant sources, it will help to maintain overall body health for sure.
14. Improves the Bones and Teeth
Fluted pumpkin vegetable consists of a good amount of calcium that the body needs for maintaining healthy bones and teeth also keep the skeletal systems in normal functioning conditions. It also consists of magnesium which plays a vital role in making the bone firm and strong, it might be surprising to say that without magnesium, calcium is almost ineffective to bones as it helps the satisfactory absorption of calcium by the bones. It also plays the same function on the teeth, as sufficient magnesium in the body helps in making the teeth stronger and firm.
15. Treat Convulsion
Fluted Gourd leaves have been found effective in treating convulsion in children. It becomes medicinal in this case when sliced and mixed with coconut water and with a small amount of salt. Technically there might be no proof of this, but it has been used hundreds of years ago in the treatment of high fever and convulsion, and serve as a remedy to many other health conditions.
16. Improves Blood Production
Fluted pumpkin leaves are always suggested for patients who suffer from a shortage of blood due to the effect of certain illnesses; the presence of iron and other important minerals in it contribute in the boosting of blood in the body system and prevent anemia. For the effectiveness of helping boost blood production, it is recommended to be pounded, and then strain the mashed vegetable to collect the liquid/juice. Most times milk is also added to the juice before drinking.
17. Improves Memory
Fluted Gourd contains certain compounds which help to improve memory. It also contains vital nutrients such as vitamins and magnesium which aid in the improvement and normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. This can help in improving cognitive reasoning, memory loss (Dementia), and other health conditions related to memory health such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Traditional uses and benefits of Fluted Gourd
- The plant is used for convulsion, malaria, anemia, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Pregnant women, and patients suffering from anemia, use the leaf juice as a tonic to strengthen the blood.
- Sliced young leaves mixed with coconut water and salt can be stored in a bottle and used for the treatment of convulsion
- The Telfairia occidentalis juice can be used in the management of hypercholesterolemia, liver problems, and impaired immune system.
- The Telfairia occidentalis juice has the potential to regenerate testicular damage and therefore can be used to remedy reproductive and fertility issues.
Culinary Uses
- Young shoots and leaves of female plants of this species are consumed as vegetables.
- Seeds can be eaten whole, ground into powder, or made into a fermented porridge.
- Seed oil is used in cooking.
- Seed can be consumed after being cooked.
- It can be boiled and eaten as a nut, or ground into flour for use in soups.
- Immature seeds are cooked or roasted; they can also be fermented for several days and eaten as slurry.
- Mature seeds are not consumed directly because they have a high content of anti-nutrients.
- Raw flour shows better water and fat absorption properties than oil, hence its useful application in baking products.
- The seed contains up to 30% protein and a high content of non-drying oil.
- Seeds have a very high oil content and are used to make cooking oil.
- Leaves and young shoots are cooked as a potherb.
- Leaves are used alone or together with okra, dika nut or egusi seeds.
- Young shoots, up to 50 cm long, are used in stews and as a side dish.
- Fruit pulp, including the young seeds, is occasionally made into marmalade.
- Young shoots and leaves of the female plant are the main ingredients of a Nigerian soup, ofe egwusi.
- They are often cooked with fish, meat and tapioca.
- Fruit pulp with young seeds is occasionally made into marmalade.
Other facts
- Fluted pumpkin is often grown as a crop in homesteads, where it is inter-cropped with other vegetables and food crops such as cassava, yams and maize, or is planted against fences.
- Oil from the seeds is reported to be non-drying, and also to be used as drying oil for paints and varnishes.
- Stems are softened to produce fibers that are used as a sponge.
- Rind and pulp of the fruit of fluted pumpkin are used as fodder for livestock.
References
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