ABSTRACT
The family Cucurbitaceae consists of approximately 90 genera and 700 species of climbers of which about 50 are medicinal in the Pacific Rim. Fruits of the Cucurbitaceae family provide cucumber, melon, pumpkin, and watermelon. In the Pacific Rim, the fruits are often used to promote urination, to allay fever, to soothe inflamed parts, to check hemorrhages, to counteract poisoning, to treat diabetes, jaundice, scabies, to expel intestinal worms, and to calm anxiety. In Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, the Gymnopetalum cochinchinense plant is used as a postpartum remedy. In Malaysia, a decoction of leaves is used as a drink to counteract the poisonous effects of the fruits. The juice squeezed from the leaves is used to soothe inflamed eyes. The Trichosanthes species are elaborate, besides trichosanthin, trichomislin, which induces apoptosis. Cytotoxic multiflorane triterpenoids including karounidol are known to occur in the Trichosanthes species.
