The Amazing Fluted Pumpkin Vegetable Leaves and Fruits

The Amazing Fluted Pumpkin Vegetable Leaves and Fruits

ICMS, Inc. Reports
By Tom Okure, Ph.D.

The fluted pumpkin fruit in this picture was one of many harvested recently from a relative's farm. It aroused my thoughts about this incredible amazing vegetable vine.

Fluted pumpkin or Gourd is a common tropical vine vegetable grown in Nigeria and across West Africa. Both the leaves and the fruit seeds are edible and widely consumed in Nigeria, especially in the southern Nigerian states. It is one of the most widely eaten leafy vegetables among southern Nigeria’s Igbo, Efik, Ibibio, and Annang tribes, who use it for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Its biological name is Telfairia occidentalis but it is called by many different names by the local populations that consume it. Common tribal names used to refer to this plant in the south are Ubong, Ugu, Umee, ikong-ubong, Umwenkhen ugwu etc.

When young, the fruits of a fluted pumpkin look very green, but as they ripen, the fruit turns yellow and finally cloudy white upon ripening. Generally, mature fruits weigh as much as 6kg to 7kg. The seeds are encased within a fleshy fibrous bright-yellow endoscarp. Seeds in outline are compressed ovoid, about 4.5 cm long, black or brown-red colored, and asymmetrically ovate. 

The leaves are used to prepare various tantalizing soup dishes in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria such as edikang ikong and okra soups. The plant is known to have many nutritional and health benefits. The leaves are not bitter-tasting and can be easily consumed raw or cooked with other food ingredients.  The leaves are low in calories but contain high amounts of vitamins, iron, and calcium. The freshly juiced leaves can be taken as a blood tonic by someone feeling ill or just weak. This is why pregnant women and lactating mothers are encouraged to consume plenty of the leaves. 

Medically, the plant is used to treat convulsion, malaria, anemia, and cardiovascular diseases. The health benefits of this plant leaves are so numerous that it is probably a significant latent cause of good health among Nigerians. I say this because the leaves of fluted pumpkin are very high in protein and eaten frequently can act as a protein vitamin supplement for the body’s daily requirement.

While the leaves and seeds of this plant are edible, it is astonishing that research alleges that the roots are poisonous and not fit for human consumption.

The health benefits of fluted pumpkin are many and include the following: Good for the digestive system, Blood purifier, Treats Anemia, Treatment of Infertility, Treats Malaria, Prevents Diabetes, Prevents Kidney Diseases, Helps Nursing Mothers, Reduces Stress, Prevents Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia, Boost Immune System, Improves Memory, Improves Blood Production.

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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc. (or ICMS Inc). ICMS, Inc., is a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York