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Sicyos edulis Jacq.

Summary
It is commonly known as Squash and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. The mature fruit is consumed as vegetable. It contains a wide array of bioactive compounds such as peroxidases, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, cucurbitane, triterpenoids and phytosterols. The presence of polyphenols like phenolic acids, tannins and stilbenes implicates protection against fungal diseases and insect attack. The bioactive polysaccharides of squash is mostly Arabinans and Homogalacturonans that regulate macrophage functions. The biological effects like induction of TNFα and Nitric oxide secretion in macrophages are not affected during cooking process.

Mode of Consumption : Boiled and fried
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Sicyos edulis Jacq.
Family: Cucurbitaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Genus: Sicyos L.
Fruiting Season: September to January
Parts: Fruit
  • The North-Eastern Hill Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Assam : Squash
Karnataka : Seemebadane
Manipur : Dashkush
Mizoram : Iskut
Nagaland : Kusü, Kskusmri, Kushü
Odisha : Phuti kakudi
Tamil Nadu : Seemakattirikkai, Chow-chow
West Bengal : Quash

Fruit


Fruit
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
PolysaccharideImmunomodulatoryPolysaccharides from raw Sicyos edulis (Sechium edule) and hot water extract (from cooked material) reduced TNF-α, NO and IL-6 secretion in activated macrophages.TNF-α, NO, and IL-6[1]
PolyphenolsAntioxidant, Anti-inflammatoryThe PPARα factor, which is stimulated by the polyphenols present in Sicyos edulis (Sechium edule), interfered with the signaling of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, including STAT, AP-1 and NF-κB.PPARα, STAT, AP-1, and NF-κB[2]
PolyphenolsAntioxidant, Anti-inflammatoryStatistically significant decrease in the concentration of TNF-α was found (baseline, 5.3 ± 1.4 vs. post-treatment, 3.5 ± 1.3, p < 0.05) in older adults with metabolic syndrome.TNF-α[2]
Fruit extractAntioxidant, Anti-inflammatoryThe extract of fruits of the Sicyos (Sechium) hybrid reduced the levels of TNF-α, IFNγ, and IL-6 but increased IL-10 and glutathione peroxidase levels.TNF-α, IFNγ, IL-6, and IL-10[3]
Methanolic extractAntiproliferativeThe methanolic extract inhibited the proliferation of HeLa cells (IC50 1.85 g/mL), but the lymphocytes were affected by the extract (IC50 30.04 g/mL). Several fractions, and the pooled fractions showed more than 80% inhibition at 2.11 g/mL. Methanolic extract showed specificity in inhibiting tumor cells without inhibiting normal cells. [4]
FruitAnti-inflammatoryChayotte, Sicyos edulis (Sechium edule) squeeze therapy like 20 gram/rat decreased protease activity and TNF-α expression of 44 % and 61 % respectively.TNF-α[5]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Information from Wealth of India Reference
4.2, 04.2.1, 04.2.1.1, 04.2.1.3, 04.2.2.3, 04.2.2.5, 04.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India