Ash Gourd Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!
By Dr Anuja Bodhare +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr Anuja Bodhare
Last updated: Apr 24, 2025 Published on: Jul 24, 2022
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By Dr Anuja Bodhare +2 more
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The ash gourd plant is an annual trailing vine. It is scientifically known as Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) and belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It has a unique melon-like fruit that is often eaten for its medicinal and functional properties. Ash gourd plant grows in warm, humid tropical climates and is cultivated in countries of South East Asia, including India, Japan, China, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan1.
The ash gourd fruit got its name from the colour of its skin, which is ash, and it is also called wax gourd because of the waxy shine on the skin. It is mainly grown during the rainy season, so people also call it the winter melon. In ancient medical systems, the Ayurvedic preparation of ash gourd, known as ‘Kushmanda’ in Sanskrit, was thought to have medicinal properties. The most famous sweet, ‘Agra ka Petha’, is also prepared using the ripened ash gourd fruit soaked in sugar syrup2. There are several other names for ash gourd that you might have heard of; it is named Donggua in Chinese, Beligo in Indonesia, White gourd, White pumpkin, Ash pumpkin, etc.
Let’s read more about the beneficial properties and potential uses of ash gourd juice.
The essential nutrients of ash gourd fruit are proteins, flavonoids, carotenes, vitamins, minerals, volatile oils, etc. Ash gourd fruit is majorly composed of 96% water; the remaining nutrients are as follows3:
Ash gourd fruit is a common vegetable that might have nutritional and medicinal properties. The bioactive nutrients might show potential benefits in various chronic diseases. The properties of ash gourd juice are5:
Ash gourd is considered a functional food, as all parts of the fruit have demonstrated beneficial properties in certain studies5. However, how helpful these are for humans needs to be seen by larger studies. Here are some of its potential uses:
Ash gourd juice is low in calories and carbohydrates with no fat content. It might be a great choice for patients with diabetes due to this nutrient profile. The pulp of the fruit might have anti-diabetic properties contributed by various nutrients. When mixed with honey, the dried powder of the peel of the fruit may help lower blood sugar levels.
A human study6 conducted by Majumdar et al. (2010) observed that ash gourd juice helps reduce blood glucose levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. However, more studies are required to present the benefits of ash gourd juice for diabetes.
The various properties of ash gourd juice might help in weight loss management. As we know, ash gourd juice is low in calories and fats and thus it may be beneficial to people who want to lose weight. The lipid-lowering properties and high content of dietary fibre of ash gourd juice might help decrease serum cholesterol and lipid levels, which may help lower body fat.
A literature7 review by Waidyarathna et al. (2020) suggests that if you use ground peeled raw ash gourd fruits and seeds with an equal amount of water and some salt, it might be helpful to lose weight. Although this information is insufficient and requires more studies.
The health benefits of ash gourd juice might positively affect people suffering from peptic ulcers (related to the digestive tract and stomach). Ash gourd juice is prepared by shredding the fruit and mixing it with water. Drinking ash gourd juice on an empty stomach may be helpful for peptic ulcers. After consuming the juice, it is best to avoid eating for at least three hours. According to the Ayurvedic medicine system8, ash gourd has been referenced as a valuable medicine for peptic ulcers. This information is age-old and insufficient; therefore, large-scale human studies are necessary to confirm these benefits.
Ash gourd juice may support skin health. The fruit extract used to prepare face cream might be helpful and effective in delaying the deterioration of skin cells with age. A study9 showed that some compounds of the fruit (pulp, peel, seeds) contribute to its antioxidant activity, which may fight ageing-inducing free radicals. It may also decrease oxidative damage and help manage the effects of skin cell degradation. More studies are required to confirm the beneficial effect of ash gourd juice on skin.
Although some studies show the benefits of ash gourd juice in various conditions, these pieces of information are insufficient. Therefore, more studies are required to confirm the benefits of ash gourd juice on human health. Hence, you should always consult a doctor before using ash gourd juice for any medical condition.
Based on my experience, I have come across research4 suggesting that ash gourd may have a potential protective effect on Alzheimer’s disease. Ash gourd showed promise in protecting neurons against oxidative stress, which is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This protective effect could be attributed to the presence of vitamin E and β-carotene in ash gourd, which helps counteract oxidative damage.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
Ash gourd juice contains significant nutrients essential for maintaining good health. It can be used in the following ways:
Before consuming ash gourd fruit or juice, it is better to take the advice of a qualified doctor. They will be the best person to prescribe you the correct way to use it.
Over the years, I have come across research3 suggesting that ash gourd may have an anti-compulsive effect. An anti-compulsive effect refers to the ability of a substance or treatment to reduce or alleviate compulsive behaviours. This effect could be attributed to the presence of tryptophan in ash gourd, which is believed to enhance the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and behaviour.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
While generally safe, ash gourd juice may have some side effects.
Ash gourd contains anti-nutritional factors (e.g., phytates, oxalate, etc.), which might reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. A diet containing ash gourd juice may increase the risk of calcium deposition, which might lead to kidney stones11.
Various toxicological studies on animals suggest that ash gourd juice may be safe and might not have any adverse effects. However, if you experience any harmful reaction, immediately contact an Ayurvedic doctor and get appropriate treatment.
In my experience, I have observed that ash gourd extract has shown effectiveness in reducing allergic inflammation. These effects may be attributed to certain compounds present in ash gourd that help to alleviate inflammation10.
Dr. Smita Barode, BAMS, M.S.
Ash gourd is considered safe if it is taken in minimal dosages. However, precautions have to be followed while having ash gourd juice.
We advise you to consult an Ayurvedic physician for a safer dosage form.
There is not enough information. However, it is recommended that ash gourd juice should not be taken orally along with any mineral drugs.
It is always best to follow the advice of an Ayurvedic physician who will guide and prescribe you a better way to make use of this herbal juice.
Other vernacular names for ash gourd are Kundur (Malay), Safed Kolu (Gujarati), Neer oosanikai (Tamil), Kumbalam (Malayalam), Boodida gummadikaaya (Telugu), Boodu gumbala (Kannada) and Alupuhul (Sinhalese)3.
Ash gourd juice contains essential minerals necessary for performing vital functions and maintaining water balance in the body; sodium might help to maintain body fluid balance, whereas calcium and potassium might maintain healthy blood pressure. Iron helps to transport oxygen to the brain, zinc nourishes the body, and manganese performs cellular activities.
The dental benefits of ash gourd juice may be involved in managing teeth and gum health. Using ash gourd juice daily for mouth gargling may help maintain your teeth and reduce bleeding gums. However, one should consult a doctor before using ash gourd juice for dental health.
Drinking ash gourd juice might be helpful in weight management due to its low calories. However, this information is insufficient to claim the beneficial effect of ash gourd juice. Hence, more studies are needed.
Yes, ash gourd juice may have antacid properties that might regulate the acidity in the stomach. People might use ash gourd juice for acidity, by boiling it with cow’s milk. However, you should consult an Ayurvedic doctor before using it to control acidity.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
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Very interesting articles for health benefits