Cephalandra Indica: A miracle of nature

Abstract

Cephalandra indica commonly known as Ivy gourd, Little gourd, Kovai belongs to family Cucurbitaceae. It is widely used for hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities in homoeopathy and other system of traditional medicine. It contains an enzyme with amyloytic properties, a hormone and traces of an alkaloid and it produces reduction of sugar in the blood and urine of patients suffering from glycosuria. The present review attempts to encompass the available literature on Cephalandra indica with respect to its morphological characters, phytochemistry, summary of its various pharmacological activities and traditional and homoeopathic uses.