Common names | Caigua
Scientific name | Cyclanthera pedata
Used part | Fruit
Known active compounds | cucurbitacins, isovitexin, apigenin fucoside, chrisin glycoside 

Potential benefits in cosmetics | anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory
Product name | Caigua-ANB

 

 

Plant Story

Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata) is an herbaceous vine native to South America. Its fruits are light green, ovoid, and curved, almost hollow with smooth skin and black seeds. The fruits are consumed as vegetable either cooked or raw as salad. The fruit is a good source of potassium and magnesium, and its flavor is similar to cucumber. It was cultivated by the Incas in the Andean region. Medicinally, caigua fruit is used for its anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic properties.

 

A number of studies demonstrated the presence of cucurbitacins, triterpenoids, and flavonoid glycosides from caigua fruits. Several flavonoids were identified including apigenin fucoside, isovitexin, chrisin glycoside, and chrisin malonyl fucoside. The fruit extracts showed anti-oxidant activities by reducing ABTS and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. The polyphenolic extract obtained from caigua flour showed an inhibitory effect on lipoxygenase activity which is an inflammatory mediator.