Ecballium elaterium A. Rich.
Family Cucurbitaceae.
Habitat Mediterranean region and Western Asia.
English Squirting Cucumber.
Ayurvedic Kantaki Indravaaruni (non-classical).
Folk Kateri Indryaayana, Kitran.
Action Hydragogue; employed for the evacuation of dropsy, especially in nephritic patients. Root—used to treat skin diseases and parasitic scalp diseases; also for scirrhous
eruptions.
Roots, leaves and fruits yield cucurbitacins C, D, E, G, H and I. Fruit juice gave cucurbitacins B, L and Rand their derivatives. Cucurbitacins (tetracyclic triterpene glycosides) are toxic constituents of the fruit.