Cyclanthera pedata

Last updated

Caigua
Cyclanthera pedata z02.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cyclanthera
Species:
C. pedata
Binomial name
Cyclanthera pedata
(L.) Schrader
Synonyms [1]
  • Anguria pedatisectaNees & Mart. [Spelling variant]
  • Anguria pedisectaNees & Mart.
  • Apodanthera pedisecta(Nees & Mart.) Cogn.
  • Cyclanthera digitataArn.
  • Cyclanthera edulisNaudin ex Huber
  • Momordica pedataL.

Cyclanthera pedata, known as caigua, is a herbaceous vine grown for its edible fruit, which is predominantly used as a vegetable. It is known from cultivation only, and its use goes back many centuries as evidenced by ancient phytomorphic ceramics from Peru depicting the fruits.

Contents

Origin and distribution

Not known in the wild, but presumably native to the Andes where it has been traditionally cultivated. [2]

Description

Cyclanthera pedata is a vine that can be 12 m long; the stems are thin; and the leaves can be up to 24 cm long, palmate or pedate in shape. [2] The small flowers can be greenish or white and are borne in racemes. [2] The fruit is light green, ovoid, curved, up to 15 cm long, almost hollow (except for the seeds and a thin flesh layer), with smooth skin or sometimes covered in soft spines; the seeds are black. [2] [3]

Flowers. Cyclanthera pedata kz01.jpg
Flowers.

Cultivation

Cyclanthera pedata is grown at small scale farming in mountain areas of Mexico, Central America and South America. [2] It is sometimes cultivated in Asia. [2] This species can be grown in mountain areas up to 2000, being adapted to cool temperatures. [2] [4]

Vernacular names

Known in the Andes as caigua [4] or caihua [4] (possibly from Quechua kaywa); [5] also as achocha [4] (possibly from Quechua achuqcha). [5] In English it is named stuffing cucumber or slipper gourd. [2] In Costa Rica it is called Jaiva. In Darjeeling, India, it is called Chuchay Karela. In Chinese, it is known as 小雀瓜.

Uses

Food

The fruits are eaten after removing the seeds. Young fruits can be eaten fresh, added to salads, sautéed, or served as a side dish. Mature fruits are typically stuffed with meats, fish, or cheese and can be fried, breaded, or baked. [6] Young shoots and leaves can also be eaten as greens. [2] The fruits are a source of potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. [7] Fruit flavor is similar to cucumber crossed with green bean or otherwise tasteless. [2] [3]

Caigua [8] [7]
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 17 kcal (71 kJ)
4 g
Dietary fiber 0.7 g
Fat
0.1 g
0.6 g
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Thiamine (B1)
3%
0.04 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
3%
0.04 mg
Niacin (B3)
2%
0.3 mg
Vitamin C
16%
14 mg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
1%
14 mg
Iron
1%
0.21 mg
Magnesium
2%
8.4 mg
Phosphorus
2%
26 mg
Potassium
5%
152 mg
Sodium
0%
0.91 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water94.1 %
Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [9] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [10]

Chemistry

The fruits contain flavonoid glycosides [11] of which four show an antioxidant effect. [12]

Caigua fruits generally exhibit high antioxidant activity but a low total phenolic content, which indicates that non-phenolic water-soluble compounds might be involved. [13] Flavonoids are present in this cyclanthera species, which have antioxidant properties as well and were shown that with a high intake are correlated to a decrease in heart disease. [11]

Fruit in half showing seeds. Caihua.jpg
Fruit in half showing seeds.

Dried samples of caigua showed α-amylase inhibition and relevant ACE inhibitory activities. [13] The anticholesterolemic activity of caigua was confirmed, promoting cholesterol metabolism and bile acids synthesis in a hepatic cell model, with the extract showing novel choleretic activity. [14]

A negative aspect of caigua is, that the seeds contain a group of trypsin inhibitors, which negatively affect protein absorption. [15]

Other chemicals in the Caigua include triterpenoid saponins and the seeds have been reported with six cucurbitacin glycosides. [16] as well as 28-30 amino acids. [15]

Medicinal Applications

Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata) has been traditionally used in South American folk medicine for its alleged anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects, particularly in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol levels. [17] It is believed to be effective against atherosclerosis, circulation problems, and is used as an analgesic. Infusions made from Caigua are commonly consumed to help control hypertension and improve cholesterol levels. [18] In post-menopausal women, daily oral doses of dehydrated Caigua fruit have been shown to significantly reduce serum cholesterol. [19]

Archaeology

Moche culture ceramic depicting caiguas. Caiguamuseolarco.jpg
Moche culture ceramic depicting caiguas.

The Moche culture often depicted this species in their ceramics. [20] Remains of this species have also been found buried in archaeological sites on the Peruvian coast. [21]

Related Research Articles

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