Therapeutic Potential and Pharmacognostic Review of Benincasa hispida

Benincasa hispida is a Traditional medicinal plant used for many purposes. The present review study is about the natural herb, Benincasa hispida also known as Ash gourd, Family: Cucurbitaceae It is widely grown throughout south and southeast Asia, places where it is thought to have originated. It was popular vegetable widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. All parts of the fruit can be used as medicine. Physicochemical analysis showed that the major constitute of Benincasa hispida fruits are volatile oils, flavonoids, proteins, carotenes, minerals, vitamin, glycosides, uronic acid. It also possesses many Pharmacological properties like Anti-asthmatic, Nootropic activity, Hypoglycemic activity, antimicrobial action etc.