Chinese Cucumber

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Japan, Malaya (Import)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Antitussive, Astringent, Bronchitis, Cancer

Science studied: CAMPESTEROL, COMPOUND-Q, 24-ETHYL-5ALPHA-CHOLESTA-5,25-DIEN-3-BETA-OL, 24-ETHYLCHOLESTA-7,24(25)-DIEN-3-BETA-OL

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Scientific name: Trichosanthes kirilowii

Common names: Chinese Cucumber, Chinese cucumber, Chinese snake gourd, Chinese-cucumber, Mongolian snake-gourd, Mongolian snakegourd, chinese komkommer, gua lou, haneultari, kinesisk ormgurka, tian hua fen, Трихозант Кириллова, チョウセンカラスウリ

POWO: 294222-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Japan, Malaya (Import).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Antitussive
• Astringent
• Bronchitis
• Cancer
• Cancer(Breast)
• Chest
• Congestion
• Constipation

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Japan
• Malaya (Import)

Documented cultural uses

• Antitussive
• Astringent
• Bronchitis
• Cancer
• Cancer(Breast)
• Chest
• Congestion
• Constipation
• Diabetes
• Dysuria
• Expectorant
• Fever

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Antitussive · China · "
• Astringent · China · "
• Bronchitis · China · "
• Cancer · China · "
• Cancer(Breast) · China · "
• Chest · China · "
• Congestion · China · "
• Constipation · China · "
• Diabetes · China · "
• Dysuria · China · "
• Expectorant · China · "
• Fever · China · "
• Hyperglycemia · China · "
• Icterus · China · "
• Inflammation · China · "
• Jaundice · China · "
• Lactogogue · Japan · "
• Sialogogue · China · "
• Suppurative · China · "
• Swelling · China · "
• Thirst · China · "
• Tonic · China · "
• Abscess · China · "
• Laryngitis · China · "

9 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Phosphorylation modification of Trichosanthes kirilowii seed protein isolates: An effective foaming enhancement strategy. · 2026 source ↗
• Preparation of polysaccharides from <i>Trichosanthes kirilowii</i> Maxim. and their antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. · 2026 source ↗
• Trichosanthes kirilowii polysaccharides: A comprehensive review of structural characterization, bioactivities, and monosaccharide composition-based structure - activity relationships. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• CAMPESTEROL
• COMPOUND-Q
• 24-ETHYL-5ALPHA-CHOLESTA-5,25-DIEN-3-BETA-OL
• 24-ETHYLCHOLESTA-7,24(25)-DIEN-3-BETA-OL
• 24-ETHYL-5-ALPHA-CHOLESTA-7,22,25-TRIEN-3-BETA-OL
• LINOLEIC-ACID
• LINOLENIC-ACID
• OLEIC-ACID
• SAPONINS
• ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-6'-(Z,Z)-9,12-OCTADECADIENOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-PALMITATE
• ALPHA-SPINASTEROL-6'-PALMITYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL-6'-PALMITYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• DELTA-7-STIGMASTENOL-6'-(Z,Z)-9,12-OCTADECADIENOYL-BETA-D-GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• STIGMASTEROL
• 7-STIGMASTEROL

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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