Cyclanthera pedata
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. Origin and distribution. Not known in the wild, but presumably native to the Andes where it has been traditionally cultivated. Description. "Cyclanthera pedata" is a vine that can be 12 m long; the stems are thin; and the leaves can be up to 24 cm long, palmate or pedate in shape. The small  flowers can be greenish or white and are borne in racemes. The fruit is light green, ovoid, curved, up to 15 cm long, almost hollow (except for the seeds and a thin flesh layer), with smooth skin or sometimes covered in soft spines; the seeds are black. Cultivation. "Cyclanthera pedata" is grown at small scale farming in mountain areas of Mexico, Central America and South America. It is sometimes cultivated in Asia. This species can be grown in mountain areas up to 2000, being adapted to cool temperatures."" Vernacular names. Known in the Andes as "caigua" or "caihua" (possibly from  Quechua "kaywa"); also as "achocha" (possibly from Quechua "achuqcha"). In English it is named "stuffing cucumber" or "slipper gourd." In Costa Rica it is called "Jaiva". In Darjeeling, India its called "Chuchay Karela". Uses. Food. The fruits are eaten after removing the seeds and stuffing them with other foods like rice or meat, and then cooking them. Young shoots and leaves can also be eaten as greens. The fruits are a source of potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Fruit flavor is similar to cucumber crossed with green bean or otherwise tasteless. Chemistry. 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. Dried samples of caigua showed α-amylase inhibition and relevant ACE inhibitory activities. A negative aspect of caigua is, that the seeds contain a group of trypsin inhibitors, which negatively affect protein absorption. Other chemicals in the Caigua include triterpenoid saponins and the seeds  have been reported with six cucurbitacin glycosides. as well as 28-30 amino acids. Archaeology. The Moche culture often depicted this species in their ceramics. Remains of this species have also been found buried in archaeological sites on the Peruvian coast.