Coloquinte

The coloquinte(Citrullus colocynthis), also known as pomaquinte, al-Handal, coloquinte gourd, purging cucumber or devil's apple, is a poisonous plant from the gourd family. The ripe fruit of the coloquinte is used as a medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, coloquinte is used in combination products to treat constipation as well as liver and gallbladder disorders.

How does coloquinte work?

Coloquinte contains the chemical cucurbitacin, which has an extremely irritating effect on the mucous membranes, including the stomach and intestinal mucous membranes.

How effective is coloquinte?

There is not enough scientific data to be able to make a statement about the effectiveness of coloquinte for liver problems, gallbladder problems and constipation. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of coloquinte for these conditions.

Safety and side effects

Coloquinte is not safe or harmless and its use as an ingredient in dietary supplements is banned in some countries including the USA. Even taking very small amounts of coloquinte can cause serious irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, bloody diarrhea, kidney damage, bloody urine and an inability to urinate. Other possible side effects include convulsions, paralysis and death. There have been reports of deaths after consuming just half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of coloquinte powder. In case of poisoning, a dilute tannic acid solution should be taken followed by large quantities of drinks containing egg.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Koloquinte is not safe and harmless and should therefore not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Interactions

Care should be taken when using Koloquinte in combination with the following medications:

Diuretics

Koloquinte is a laxative. Some laxatives can lower potassium levels in the body. Diuretics can also lower potassium levels, which means that the combination of Koloquinte with diuretics could lower potassium levels in the body too much.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Koloquinte depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Coloquinte. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.