Pharmacological Review on Coccinia grandis Leaves

The leaves of Coccinia grandis was used as traditional medicines as household therapy for many diseases in the traditional practice of Indian medicine for the treatment of jaundice, bronchitis, skin eruptions, burns, tongue sores, psychosis, rheumatism, eczema and syphilis. The leaves are used as vegetable by the tribal of Tripura, Mursi tribal of Ethiopia and in Vietnam the leaves and leafy shoots are boiled or cooked in soups. Ivy gourd leafy shoots are rich in beta carotene which has potent antioxidant effects as wells as it ensures the optimal functioning of the heart and prevents heart ailments. Numerous studies on the leaf extract showed pharmacological action such as an antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antipyretic, analgesic, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and antiurolithiatic. In this review an effort is made to focus on the pharmacological action of Coccinia grandis leaves.