Nutritional and Medicinal Potential of Bottle Gourd (Lageneria siceraria): A Mini Review

Abstract

BOTTLE Gourd (Lageneria siceraria) has prevalent use as a vegetable in different parts of the world. It is an extremely advantageous resource because it comprises lots of nutritional properties required for nourishment and necessary for health. Approximately, it contains: (moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, ash, and energy of 94.5±0. 06; 1.2±0.06; 0.2±0.02; 3.75±0.03; 0.7±0.01; 0.5±0.01; 15±0.12 %), respectively. In addition, bottle gourd is rich in minerals like calcium, phosphorous and also have a good source of dietary fibres. Recently, the attention on bottle gourd has been increasing as a nutritional element/health supplement in the diet due its function in the prevention and control of the diseases like indigestion, ulcers, stress, depression, and premature greying of hairs. In spite of this, bottle gourd also acts as a remedy for diseases like insanity, epilepsy, and nervous disorders and the fibres present in it are helpful in reduction of coronary heart diseases and diabetic occurrence. It contains high choline levels, metabolic/metabolites precursors desirable for the functions of the brain, as well as amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that help in synthesising neurotransmitters. In this review, an insight is presented on the effective properties, health-related, and other significance of bottle gourd in various food products as well as in pharmacological products.