A comprehensive review on Lagenaria siceraria: botanical, medicinal, and agricultural frontiers

Abstract

Lagenaria siceraria, commonly known as bottle gourd, stands as a versatile member within the Cucurbitaceae family, offering global economic significance and rich cultural history. This comprehensive review explores diverse dimensions of L. siceraria, spanning its botanical characteristics, historical cultivation, and manifold uses across ornamental, culinary, medicinal, and agricultural domains. The historical cultivation segment traces the origins and distribution of L. siceraria, underlining its early domestication and global dispersion. The ornamental section uncovers artistic and cultural dimensions, while the culinary exploration spans traditional recipes in tropical regions to the resurgence of bottle gourd in contemporary European cuisine. The agricultural application as a rootstock is traced from ancient practices to its modern resurgence, contributing to improved tolerance and yield. The cultivation section offers insights into optimal growth conditions, planting practices, and various factors influencing productivity. In addition, the manuscript delves into the genetic diversity of L. siceraria, and the phytochemical composition at various ripening stages is undertaken, emphasizing the impact on fruit characteristics. Furthermore, this work reviews the isolation methods for extracting key compounds from L. siceraria, evaluating the efficiency of different solvents and procedures. The pharmacological activities of the isolated compounds take center stage, with a specific focus on antimicrobial and antidiabetic properties. The review extends its exploration to potential clinical effectiveness and elucidates possible side effects associated with the consumption of bottle gourd juice, providing essential guidelines for safe utilization. In conclusion, this comprehensive review integrates the botanical, agricultural, and medicinal aspects of L. siceraria, offering a thorough understanding of its significance and potential applications across various domains.