Colocynth

Biological source: It consists of dried pithy pulp of dried fruits

of Citrullus colocynthis, family cucurbitaceae.
Geographical source: It is native of Asia and Africa found in
Syria and Egypt.
Collection: It is not cultivated commercially. It is an annual or
perennial herb with climbing stem. The fruits are collected in
autumn, peeled with sharp instruments and dried in the sun. The
dried pulp of the full grown fruits, free of rind, constitutes the
drug. It is marketed either as broken pieces which are light and
spongy or in the form of flakey powder which is yellowish
orange or yellowish green in colour.
Macroscopical characters
Colour – the fruits yellow
Odour – characteristic
Taste- Intensely bitter
Size: Entire fruits up to 10 cm in diameter
Shape: sub-spherical
The berries contain number of seeds which are about 6-4-2 mm
in size, ovoid, flattened and yellowish brown in colour.
Chemical constituents: The principles of colocynth include bitter
amorphous alkaloids and resin. The pulp contains cucurbitacin
E, elatericin B dihydroelatericin or cucurbitacin L, fixed oil and
starch.
Uses: It is used as powerful purgative along with carminative.
The constituents also exhibit necrotic action.