A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of Cucumis Dipsaceus Ehrenb. (Fruit)

Fruit of Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. belongs to the family-Cucurbitaceae, which commonly known as gourd family and members are commonly called as Cucurbits. Its common name is hedgehog cucumber. It comprises of 122 genera and 940 species, which is mostly distributed in the tropical and worm regions of the world. Shape of fruit is cylindrical with non-breakaway hairs and hispid. The fruit contains certain major bioactive constituents such as, glycosides, fixed oils, tannin, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, resins, steroids, essential amino acids and minerals, which are responsible for medicinal value. Methanolic extract screened for the presence of flavonoid glycosides by column chromatography and for molecular isolation of polyphenolic compounds TLC, HPTLC and LCMS methods were use. Traditionally, fruit extract was use for the treatment of diarrhoea, stomach pain, constipation, gastrointestinal disease, meningitis, anti-acne lotions, headache, dysentery, hemorrhoid for rabies etc. Fruit extract was evaluated for various types of pharmacological activities like Anti-inflammatory activity, Anti- nutritional factors, Antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity, Antimicrobial activity, Analgesic, Anti-bacterial activity and Hepatoprotective activity by employing the animal models. This review brings the literature on Anti-diabetic activity of Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. Therefore, that literature provides a direction for further clinical research to promote safe and effective herbal treatments to cure a number of diseases.