130 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Var. L. clavata, Ser. (C. lagenaria villosa, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — CalabazabIanea,Sp.; Opo, Tag.; White Gourd, 

 Eng. 



Uses. — The three above-mentioned varieties of L. vulgaris, 

 Ser., are commonly grouped under the name calabaza (gourd). 

 All have the same action and hence the same therapeutic appli- 

 cation. The green portion of the rind is bitter and possesses 

 purgative and emetic properties. The decoction of the tender 

 shoots is expectorant ; in addition it appears to possess purga- 

 tive properties and in India is used in jaundice. 



The part of the plant most generally used is the seeds, the 

 taenifuge properties of which are well known. Its action, 

 however, is not always certain, which may be as truly said of 

 all other known taenifuges. The seeds have the advantage of 

 lacking the disgusting taste characteristic of other remedies of 

 the same class ; the taste is almost neutral and a little sugar 

 conceals it completely. The dose is unlimited ; some take 15 

 grams, others as high as 100, and no unpleasant symptoms of 

 any kind have been reported. The only precaution to be ob- 

 served is to give the patient a purgative 1-2 hours after his dose. 



Heckel has analyzed the seeds and found a resin which he 

 calls pepo-resina ; it exists in the greenish pellicle that envel- 

 opes the embryo and appears to be the active principle of the 

 seeds. Its dose is 0.80-1.00 gram (Dujardin-Beaumetz), the 

 product of 250 grams of the seeds. The dose of 100 grams of 

 the seeds mentioned above is very small, if the pepo-resin rep- 

 resents the entire active principle, for 100 grams of the seeds 

 would only contain about 40 centigrams. 



Botanical Description. — A very familiar vine, clammy, 

 pubescent and musk-scented ; large leaves, long-stalked flowers, 

 white petals, greenish veiny fruit usually club-shaped or en- 

 larged at the apex, the hard rind used for vessels, dippers, and 

 so forth. It is noteworthy that none of the taenifuge varieties 

 mentioned bears yellow fruit. 



