Bottle Gourd (Lauki): Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Introduction:

Lagenaria siceraria, known as bottle gourd in English and Lauki in Hindi, is a common vegetable in India. Bottle gourd has been used traditionally to help with many health conditions like fever, cough, pain, and asthma. It has been used since ancient times for its benefits. It is also considered a good source of vitamin B, C, and other nutrients. It is known for its shape, a bottle, dumbbell, or oval shape.  

You may find bottle gourd boring to eat, but it is considered one of the earliest plants to be domesticated on earth. It may also be packed with many health-promoting benefits.^1,2 If you want to learn more about the bottle gourd or lauki, continue reading.  

Nutritional Value of Bottle Gourd: 

Nutritional value of bottle gourd per 10 grams of serving³ :

• Carbohydrates: 3.39 g
• Proteins: 0.62 g
• Lipids: 0.02 g
• Fibre: 0.5 g
• Iron: 0.2 mg
• Calcium: 26 mg
• Potassium: 150 mg
• Sodium: 2 mg
• Magnesium: 11 mg
• Phosphorus: 13 mg
• Zinc: 0.7 mg
• Copper: 0.026 mg
• Manganese: 0.066 mg
• Selenium: 0.2 µg
• Vitamin C: 10.1 mg
• Riboflavin: 0.022 mg
• Thiamin: 0.029 mg
• Pantothenic Acid: 0.152 mg
• Vitamin B6: 0.04 mg
• Niacin: 0.32 mg
• Folate: 6 µg
• Energy: 14 kcal

Bottle gourd contains terpenoid compounds cucurbitacins, which are responsible for its bitter taste. They can cause stomach upset if consumed in excessive amounts.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S M.D (Ayu)

Properties of Bottle Gourd (Lauki): 

Bottle gourd might have the following properties:  

• It may have nutritional properties.    
• It might have anti-inflammatory properties.    
• It may have pain-killing properties.^1,2    

The bottle gourd seeds have phytochemicals, which not only act against bacteria but are also effective against fungi.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Overall Health: 

1. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Liver:  

Bottle gourd might have properties that may be good for the liver, as per several animal studies. Bottle gourd may offer many potential benefits, helpful in liver condition and functions. These possible benefits have been observed in animal trials. You must still contact your healthcare provider before using a bottle gourd for any liver ailment.^1,4  

2. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for the Brain:  

Consuming bottle gourd may show beneficial effects on the memory. Certain compounds in bottle gourd may show pain-relieving and central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity by acting on the brain.^1,4  CNS depressant activity might indicate its possible effects on calming the mind. Before using a bottle gourd for its benefits for the brain, you should contact your healthcare provider and get a proper diagnosis and treatment.  

3. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Cancer:  

Bottle gourd (Lauki) extract might act against the cancerous cells, as per an animal study. In addition, its stem extract may show potent cytotoxic (toxic to cells in the body) activity against cancer cell lines as per a laboratory study. This anticancer activity of bottle gourd may be attributed to its potential antioxidant and cytotoxic abilities.¹ These potential benefits of bottle gourd have been studied in laboratory studies. However, you must consult your doctor before using any herbal supplement or remedy to replace or discontinue ongoing treatment.  

4. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Diabetes:  

Bottle Gourd has been traditionally used to help with diabetes. Because of the low fat and high fibre content, bottle gourd may be recommended as the food of choice for people having diabetes. Bottle gourd extract could effectively reduce the blood glucose levels in diabetic animals, as indicated by an animal trial.⁴ The potential anti-diabetic benefits of bottle gourd have been observed in animal trials, and more studies are needed to validate these properties in humans.  

There are many variations in the size, shape and colour of bottle gourds. Size may vary from 4 to 40 inches in length and 2 to 12 inches in diameter. Neck length can reach up to 15 inches.

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S M.S.

5. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Obesity:  

Bottle gourd might be a good option for losing weight as it is low in calories and contains mostly water. It is also rich in dietary fibre and contains low fat and cholesterol. These properties may help with weight management.⁴ You can add bottle gourd to your regular diet to help you manage weight. However, before using any herbal remedy for weight loss, you need to consult your healthcare provider about its potential uses and side effects.  

6. Potential Uses of Bottle Gourd for Skin:  

Bottle gourd is a good source of vitamin C and zinc that may offer several skin benefits.³ Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for overall skin health. It may protect the skin from the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. It may also help to prevent signs of skin ageing, such as skin sagging. It may also help strengthen the skin barrier by enhancing the production of skin barrier lipids.^5. If you are suffering from any skin ailments, contact a skincare doctor or dermatologist, as they will be able to guide you about the uses and limitations of herbs and vegetables.  

Though there are studies that show the benefits of bottle gourds in various conditions, these are insufficient, and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of bottle gourds on human health.  

Also Read: Curry Leaves: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

How to Use Bottle Gourd? 

All plant parts, including fruits, leaves, stems, bark, fruit rind, seeds, and oil, also might be used in traditional medicine.  

• You may use bottle gourd fruit in your various foods and dishes. 
• You may drink bottle gourd juice for its various health benefits.⁴  

You must consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Do not discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an Ayurvedic/herbal preparation without consulting a qualified doctor.   

Also Read: Coconut: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Side Effects of Bottle Gourd: 

Drinking bottle gourd juice that tastes bitter may cause severe poisoning reactions. The symptoms of bottle gourd juice poisoning may involve vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, hematochezia (blood in stools), haematemesis (vomiting blood), shock, and even death.⁶ You must always consult your doctor immediately if you observe any of these symptoms. 

Precautions to Take With Bottle Gourd: 

Some of the precautions to take with bottle gourd are:  

• Bottle gourds may be eaten as cooked vegetables by pregnant women. However, it should be eaten in moderation, as overconsumption of any food or vegetable can lead to toxic effects.  
• Bottle gourd is a common vegetable used across India, and it may be consumed in amounts used in foods and dishes. However, avoid over-eating bottle gourd for its medicinal benefits. Reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider before you do so.  
• Bottle gourd is a common vegetable consumed across India. It may be eaten by the elderly but in moderate amounts. However, overeating may lead to severe side effects.   
• Eating bottle gourd may possibly be safe for children provided consumed in moderate amounts in foods and dishes. Children should eat vegetables under the supervision of their elders.  

Before using a bottle gourd for its medicinal benefits, reach out to your healthcare provider.  

Also Read: Raw Papaya: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Interactions With Other Drugs: 

There is a lack of sufficient data to prove the safety or interactions of bottle gourd with other medications. Therefore, if you are taking any medicines, you must consult your doctor regarding potential interactions with foods and vegetables. They will be able to guide you better regarding the precautions and interactions of a specific medicine.    

Also Read: Wheatgrass Juice: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 

References:  

1. Kumar A, Partap S, Sharma NK, Jha KK. Phytochemical; Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Profile of Lagenaria siceraria: – A Review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry [Internet]. 2012;1(3):24–31. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268434576_Phytochemical_Ethnobotanical_and_Pharmacological_Profile_of_Lagenaria_siceraria_-A_Review 

2. Kumar Seth A, Shah BN, Seth AK. Pharmacognostic Studies Of The Lagenaria Siceraria (Molina) Standley. International Journal of PharmTech Research CODEN [Internet]. 2010;2(1):121–4. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268428727 

3. Minocha S, Tiwari A, Sharma A. An Overview On Lagenaria Siceraria (Bottle Gourd). Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research [Internet]. 2015;4(3):4–10. Available from: https://jbpr.in/index.php/jbpr/article/download/190/182/ 

4. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients [Internet]. 2017 Aug 12 [cited 2022 Jun 9];9(8). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/ 

5. Rathi PM, Patel PS. Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) juice poisoning. World Journal of Emergency Medicine [Internet]. 2015 Oct 1 [cited 2022 Jun 15];6(4):308. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4677076/ 

 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.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

19

4