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.