Chapter 4 - Beneficial effects of gourds in health and diseases

Abstract

Extensive research has provided much scientific evidence on the nutrient compositions and beneficial medicinal effects of the ash gourd, bottle gourd, and bitter gourd and to a lesser extent the snake gourd, ivy gourd, pointed gourd, and ridge gourd. These gourds have been found to possess several functional components that provide beneficial effects on health. Unfortunately, research on the ridge gourd, snake gourd, ivy gourd, and pointed gourd is limited. Therefore further research is needed to validate the beneficial effects of these gourds’ functional components on our health. The fat content is low in gourds, contributing less than 0.3% by weight of edible portion. Along with macronutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, and fibers, gourds also contain vitamins and minerals, which are the essential nutrients found in all the gourds. Flavonoids and polyphenolics are also protective phytochemicals that are present in all the gourds. These phytochemicals in plants are generated to fight environmental factors including insects and infecting agents: bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Recently, these agents have been found to be protective because their phytochemicals can inhibit oxidative stress and inflammation, which appear to be much more pronounced in bitter gourd. Randomized, controlled trials have indicated that consumption of gourd vegetables can decrease blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and body weight and can inhibit cancer growth. Gourd vegetables, in particular bitter gourd and bottle gourd, have also been found to be protective against gastric ulcer, bacterial and viral infections, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases. Bitter gourd has been studied by various researchers widely, showing potential antidiabetic, antiulcerogenic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antitumor, antilipolytic, analgesic, abortifacient, antiviral, hypoglycemic, and immunomodulatory effects. Flavonoids and polyphenolics and fiber can interact with the vitamins and minerals and the gut microbiome that are required by the body to normalize physiological functions. This review describes the nutritional benefits, composition, and medicinal effects of three selected gourds, namely, ash, bottle, and bitter gourds, in health and diseases with particular reference to the treatment of non-communicable diseases.