European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A CRITICAL REVIEW ON BIMBI W.S.R. TO ITS MEDICINAL USES AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Rakhi Nautiyal*, Suresh Chaubey, Ritu Singh and SaritaVerma

ABSTRACT

Plants are admirable source of medicine. As the beginning of human civilization plants are used as medicine. Coccinia indica or Bimbi belongs to the family cucurbitaceae generally known as Kundru in hindi and Ivy gourd in English. Ivy gourd is extensively used as vegetable and grown widely throughout India subcontinent. Traditionally different parts of this plant are used in folklore medicine for several purposes. The whole plant of Coccinia indica having various pharmacological activities like aerial parts have antidiabetic activity, fruits have antibacterial, antitussive and antidiabetic activity, and leaves have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammmatory, anti hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective and chemoprotective activity.The present review highlights the Ayurvedic literature, traditional uses, phytochemistry and therapeutic benefits of different parts of Coccinia indica.

Keywords: Coccinia indica, Ivy gourd, Antidiabetic, Bimbi.