Pedicellus
Melo
Source
The
carpopodium of Cucumis melo L., family Cucurbitaceae.
Characteristics
Fruit stalk slender, twisted, yellow-green, enlarged at one end, with
longitudinal ridges and outward curved margin. Bitter in taste, cold in
nature, strongly toxic, and attributive. to liver and stomach channels.
Indication
1. Remove lumps, eliminate fluid and relieve jaundice: For acute and chronic
viral hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis and liver cancer.
2. Emetic: For accumulation of phlegm, epilepsy due to wind-phlegm, persistent
dyspepsia, etc.
Pharmacological
Action
1. Cucurbitacin B and E can relieve the liver damage induced by carbon
tetrachioride in experimental animals.
2. Promoting body immunity.
3. Cucurbitacins are anticancerigenic for nasopharyngeal and cervical
carcinoma.
4. Irritative to the digestive tract, and causing vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal pain, or even hemorrhage after oral administration.
Administration
Decoction:
0.5- 1.0g. Powder: 0.5-1.0g.
Cucurbitacin BE tablet (containing 0.1mg): 0.1-0.2mg tid for hepatitis
and cirrhosis; 0.1-0.2mg gradually increase to 0.5-0.6mg tid for liver
cancer.