What Are The Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Leaf Or Ugu (Telfairia occidentalis)?
JEROME MICHAEL EBRUPHIYO
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Science and Nature
This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of pumpkin leaf or ugu (Telfairia occidentalis)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What does the leaf of a pumpkin do? What is pumpkin leaf called in English? What is the local name for pumpkin leaf? What is pumpkin leaf in Nigeria? What does pumpkin leaf do in the body? What is fluted pumpkin used for? What is the health benefit of waterleaf? Is pumpkin leaf good for men?
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. 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. Although the fruit is inedible[citation needed], 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. However, it is predominantly used by the Igbo ethnic group, who continue to cultivate the gourd for food sources and traditional medicines. 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. It is endemic to southern Nigeria, and was an asset to international food trades of the Igbo ethnic group.
The fluted gourd fruit is quite large; one study documented a range of 16–105 centimetres (6.3–41.3 in) in length, and an average of 9 cm in diameter. The same study found the seed count in larger gourds to reach upwards of 196 per fruit, typically measuring between 3.4 and 4.9 cm in length. In both the pistillate and staminate varieties, T. occidentalis flowers grow in sets of five, with creamy-white and dark red petals, contrasting with the light green colour of the fruit when young, and yellow when ripe. Dioecious flowering is most common in the fluted gourd, with very few documented cases of monoecious flowering.
- The young leaves sliced and mixed with coconut water and salt are stored in a bottle and used for the treatment of convulsion in ethno medicine
- The leaf extract is useful in the management of cholesterolemia, liver problems and impaired defense immune systems
- The roots are used as rodenticide and an ordeal poison
- The long term feeding of T. occidentalis-supplemented diet caused a significant increase in weight of animals which may be due to its content of rich nutrients
- The seeds are highly nutritious and are roasted or boiled and eaten like the seeds of breadfruit
- The Seeds are also sometimes used as soup thickeners
- Telfairia occidentalis has the potential to regenerate testicular damage and also increase spermatogenesis
- The ethanol root extract of T. occidentalis possess antiplasmodial potential and antimicrobial properties
- Ethanolic extracts of T. occidentalis leaves protect the liver cells against garlic- induced oxidative damage
- The herbal preparation of the plant has been employed in the treatment of anaemia, chronic fatigue and diabetes
There is no side effect of ugu leaf juice recorded as of present. Simply make sure that the leaves are well washed before squeezing them into juice or using them for other purposes (to avoid contaminants).
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What Are The Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Leaf Or Ugu (Telfairia occidentalis)?
JEROME MICHAEL EBRUPHIYO
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Science and Nature
This post will provide information on "What are the health benefits of pumpkin leaf or ugu (Telfairia occidentalis)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What does the leaf of a pumpkin do? What is pumpkin leaf called in English? What is the local name for pumpkin leaf? What is pumpkin leaf in Nigeria? What does pumpkin leaf do in the body? What is fluted pumpkin used for? What is the health benefit of waterleaf? Is pumpkin leaf good for men?
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. 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. Although the fruit is inedible[citation needed], 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. However, it is predominantly used by the Igbo ethnic group, who continue to cultivate the gourd for food sources and traditional medicines. 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. It is endemic to southern Nigeria, and was an asset to international food trades of the Igbo ethnic group.
The fluted gourd fruit is quite large; one study documented a range of 16–105 centimetres (6.3–41.3 in) in length, and an average of 9 cm in diameter. The same study found the seed count in larger gourds to reach upwards of 196 per fruit, typically measuring between 3.4 and 4.9 cm in length. In both the pistillate and staminate varieties, T. occidentalis flowers grow in sets of five, with creamy-white and dark red petals, contrasting with the light green colour of the fruit when young, and yellow when ripe. Dioecious flowering is most common in the fluted gourd, with very few documented cases of monoecious flowering.
- The young leaves sliced and mixed with coconut water and salt are stored in a bottle and used for the treatment of convulsion in ethno medicine
- The leaf extract is useful in the management of cholesterolemia, liver problems and impaired defense immune systems
- The roots are used as rodenticide and an ordeal poison
- The long term feeding of T. occidentalis-supplemented diet caused a significant increase in weight of animals which may be due to its content of rich nutrients
- The seeds are highly nutritious and are roasted or boiled and eaten like the seeds of breadfruit
- The Seeds are also sometimes used as soup thickeners
- Telfairia occidentalis has the potential to regenerate testicular damage and also increase spermatogenesis
- The ethanol root extract of T. occidentalis possess antiplasmodial potential and antimicrobial properties
- Ethanolic extracts of T. occidentalis leaves protect the liver cells against garlic- induced oxidative damage
- The herbal preparation of the plant has been employed in the treatment of anaemia, chronic fatigue and diabetes
There is no side effect of ugu leaf juice recorded as of present. Simply make sure that the leaves are well washed before squeezing them into juice or using them for other purposes (to avoid contaminants).
Like(0) |
|
Views(431)