Coccinia grandis (L) Voigt.

Timun tikus, or ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis), is a climbing plant 20-30 meters long of the Cucurbitaceae family, first found in Africa before spreading widely to Southeast Asia. Its small fruit is commonly cooked as a vegetable in various Asian dishes. Traditionally, ivy gourd is also believed to lower high blood pressure and help control blood sugar levels.

Suited to growing at temperatures of 21-27 °C, not tolerant of high rainfall. Grows well in warm, humid tropical regions at elevations of 0-1,100 m above sea level. Rainfall of around >60 mm/month. Able to grow in most soil types, favoring sandy, humus-rich soil and shaded conditions, but does not favor clay soil.

• Stem elongated with tendrils.
• Leaves alternately arranged, palmate, broadly oblong to nearly round blades, 3-12 cm long, and 3-15 cm wide. Upper leaf surface hairless, underside hairy.
• Flowers emerge in the leaf axils, stalk 1-5 cm long, greenish-white corolla, bell-shaped with a 5-lobed split tip, round-shaped.
• Fruit oval, 4-6 cm long, green with white stripes when young, red when mature.
• Seeds brown, thickened edges, 6-7 mm long.

• This plant is generally propagated vegetatively by stem cuttings 10-15 cm long, 0.5 cm in diameter.
• Propagation by seed is rarely done because it is a dioecious plant with 50% of male flowers being non-productive.

Phytosterols, flavonoids, terpenoids, coccinoside, phenols, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, cucurbitacin B, taraxerone, lupeol, saponins, cryptoxanthin.

Addresses inflammation and has antihistamine potential; lowers high blood pressure; treats fever, diarrhea, smallpox, and diabetes; has anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering, and anthelmintic activity; relieves rheumatism; treats cataracts.

• Select fresh ivy gourd leaves. Remove any adhering debris. Wash and drain.
• Cut the leaves and place on a tray, then sun-dry, covered with a thin dark cloth.
• Once dry, grind and place in clean, tightly sealed, airtight plastic.

Kemarongan (Java), Pepasan, Papasan (Malay), Timun tai tikus (Aceh).