Bioactivities of Benincasa hispida: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Evidence

Benincasa hispida (family Cucurbitaceae), also known as winter melon, is one of the famous crops in Asian countries. It is mostly grown for its fruits. B. hispida is rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids including palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, ?-linolenic acid, and others. Scientific exploration of B. hispida was driven by the traditional practice of the plant as a remedy for various pathological conditions. This paper describes the potential pharmacological activities of B. hispida contributed by a significant concentration of phytoconstituents. B. hispida extracts enhance bone formation and downregulate the bone-resorption activity. While the antimicrobial activities result from inhibition of efflux pump transporters on the surface of bacteria and support intracellular antibiotic accumulation to destroy the bacteria. The significant concentration of flavonoids and terpenoids in B. hispida extract also possesses anticrystallization activity, which further prevents the formation of urinary stones in urolithiasis conditions. B. hispida extract also provides neuroprotective effects by effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing lipid peroxidation in neurodegenerative aging conditions. Besides, significant phytoconstituents from B. hispida extract provide a gastroprotective mechanism by increasing the gastric mucus secretion and strengthening the gastric mucosal barrier. B. hispida extract also suppressed T cell-mediated immune response in the inflammatory condition of arthritis to resolve the oedematous condition. Thus, the presence of these phytochemical constituents from B. hispida extract contributes to significant pharmacological activities.