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Cyclanthera pedata
Also called Achocha, Lady's Slipper, Slipper Goard, Stuffing Gourd, Stuffing Cucumber, Wild Cucumber, Slipper Gourd
Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata) is a climbing vine grown for its edible, cucumber-flavoured fruit, mainly in mountain areas of Mexico, Central and South America. Give it full sun, a trellis to climb, and warm, moist conditions.
Cyclanthera pedata, known as caigua, is a herbaceous vine grown for its edible fruit, which is predominantly used as a vegetable. It is known from cultivation only, and its use goes back many centuries as evidenced by ancient phytomorphic ceramics from Peru depicting the fruits.
Cyclanthera pedata is grown at small scale farming in mountain areas of Mexico, Central America and South America. It is sometimes cultivated in Asia.
The fruits contain flavonoid glycosides of which four show an antioxidant effect.
Caigua fruits generally exhibit high antioxidant activity but a low total phenolic content, which indicates that non-phenolic water-soluble compounds might be involved. Flavonoids are present in this cyclanthera species, which have antioxidant properties as well and were shown that with a high intake are correlated to a decrease in heart disease.
Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata) has been traditionally used in South American folk medicine for its alleged anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects, particularly in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is believed to be effective against atherosclerosis, circulation problems, and is used as an analgesic. Infusions made from Caigua are commonly consumed to help control hypertension and improve cholesterol levels.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cyclanthera pedata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
