Family

Cucurbitaceae

Genus

Trichosanthes

Common Name

Chinese cucumber

Plant Figure

Description

Trichosanthes kirilowii is a perennial climbing herb in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its fruit (Fructus trichosanthis), seeds (semen trichosanthis), peel (trichosanthis pericarpium), and root (radix trichosanthis) are all commonly used as traditional Chinese medicines. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said to drain heat and generate fluids, clear and drain lung heat, transform phlegm, and moisten lung dryness, and resolve toxicity and expel pus. The fruit of the plant is said to clear heat and transform phlegm-heat, unbind the chest, reduces abscesses, and dissipate nodules.