Bimbi
Coccinia grandis
Bimbi (Coccinia grandis) is a plant drug, also called Bimbaphalam, Tiktatundi and Tundika. Triterpenoids show moderate oral bioavailability. Beta-sitosterol is poorly absorbed. Pectin and fiber in the fruit may slow absorption.
| Botanical name | Coccinia grandis |
|---|---|
| Family | Cucurbitaceae · other entries in this family |
| Order | Cucurbitales |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2874564 · Wikidata Q727330 · NCBI Taxonomy 387127 |
| Sanskrit | बिम्बफलम् (bimbaphalam), बिम्बी (bimbī), तिक्ततुण्डी (tiktatuṇḍī), Tundika, Tundikeri |
|---|---|
| Hindi | Kundaruki-Bel, कुन्द्रू (kundrū), Kunru |
| English | Ivy gourd |
| Tamil | கொவ்வை, Kovai, கோவை |
| Malayalam | Kova, Koval, Nallakova |
| Telugu | Donda tige |
| Kannada | Tonde balli |
| Marathi | Tondlee |
| Bengali | Bimbu, Telakucha |
| Gujarati | Ghilodi, Gholam, Kadavi Ghilodi, Tindoran |
| Urdu | Kunduru |
| Punjabi | Kunduru |
| Oriya | Bano Kundri, Kainchi kakudi, Pitakundii |
| Assamese | Kanabhaturi, Kawabhaturi |
Sources: Apte and Monier-Williams (via wisdomlib): 'Bimbaphala (बिम्बफल) — the Bimba fruit' (Kumārasambhava 3, Bhartṛhari); Monier-Williams: 'Bimbī … Momordica Monadelpha, [Suśruta]' (Momordica monadelpha is a synonym of Coccinia grandis); Rāja Nighaṇṭu 3.64-65 gives बिम्बी as a synonym of तिक्ततुण्डी = Coccinia indica; Alar Kannada-English corpus: ಬಿಂಬಫಲ = 'the edible fruit of the vine Coccinia cordifolia (= C. indica, = Bryonia grandis, = Momordica monadelpha)'.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, Kovvai (கொவ்வை): 'A common creeper of the hedges, Coccinia indica; கொவ்வைக்கொடி'; CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names (via wisdomlib): 'Kovvai in India is the name of a plant defined with Coccinia cordifolia'.; Flowers of India (Ivy Gourd): 'Tamil: கோவை Kovai'; Rāja Nighaṇṭu 3.64-65 (via wisdomlib) gives the Tamil as Kovaikaī.; Rāja Nighaṇṭu (13th c.) verse 3.64-65 via wisdomlib: 'Bimbī (बिम्बी) is another name for Tiktatuṇḍī, a medicinal plant identified with Coccinia indica'; Monier-Williams: 'Bimbī — Momordica Monadelpha, [Suśruta]'.; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Kundru [कुन्द्रू] in the Hindi language … identified with Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt'; Flowers of India (Ivy Gourd): 'Hindi: कुन्द्रू Kundru'; Rāja Nighaṇṭu 3.64-65 glosses Tiktatuṇḍī as 'commonly known in Hindi as Kundarū'.; wisdomlib: 'Tiktatuṇḍī (तिक्ततुण्डी) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Coccinia indica', Rāja Nighaṇṭu 3.64-65; Monier-Williams cites it to the lexicographers.. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2003 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.
- 1Other clinical studies and reviews
- 11Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Ivy gourd |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Tikta, Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Ruksha | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Lepa (paste)
Standard Dosage: 10-20ml fresh juice twice daily; 3-6g powder; 50-100ml decoction; applied externally as paste for skin conditions
Optimal Timing: Traditionally taken early morning on an empty stomach or before meals; juice ideally consumed fresh
Storage: Fresh juice refrigerated at 2-8°C. Dried preparations in airtight containers. Cool, dry place below 25°C.
Marker Compounds: Cephalandrin A and B, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmast-7-en-3-one, Taraxerol, Lupeol, Cucurbitacin B, Ombuin
Synergistic Combinations
- Traditionally paired with Meshashringi (Gymnema) in formulas classed as antidiabetic
- Traditionally paired with Karela (bitter gourd)
- Traditionally paired with Haridra
- Traditionally paired with Vijaysar
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews1
- 2003. Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis Voigt, Coccinia cordifolia, Coccinia indica) in human nutrition and traditional applicationsWorld review of nutrition and dietetics. PMID 12747088 · doi:10.1159/000069929
Laboratory and animal studies11
- 2025. UHPLC-HRMS/MS-Based Metabolic Profiling and Quantification of Phytochemicals in Different Parts of Coccinia grandis (L.) VoigtFood science & nutrition. PMID 39931272 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.70004
- 2024. Antidiabetic effect of combined extract of Coccinia grandis and Blumea balsamifera on streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic ratsJournal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine. PMID 39079440 · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2024.101021
- 2024. Synthesis and bioactivity assessment of Coccinia grandis L. extract encapsulated alginate nanoparticles as an antidiabetic drug leadJournal of microencapsulation. PMID 37966469 · doi:10.1080/02652048.2023.2282964
- 2024. Anti-Hyperglycemic Effects of Thai Herbal MedicinesPlants (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 39458809 · doi:10.3390/plants13202862
- 2024. Developing and Screening of a Bacteria-Fighting and Moisture-Controlling Coccinia grandis and Poly(vinyl alcohol) Electrospun Nanofibrous MatACS omega. PMID 39035951 · doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c03884
- 2022. Coccinia grandis alleviates flavor-enhancing high-lipid diet induced hepatocellular inflammation and apoptosisJournal of food biochemistry. PMID 35092065 · doi:10.1111/jfbc.14092
- 2022. The evolution of huge Y chromosomes in Coccinia grandis and its sister, Coccinia schimperiPhilosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences. PMID 35306898 · doi:10.1098/rstb.2021.0294
- 2022. Mucilage of Coccinia grandis as an Efficient Natural Polymer-Based Pharmaceutical ExcipientPolymers. PMID 35012237 · doi:10.3390/polym14010215
- 2021. Efficacy of Coccinia grandis against monosodium glutamate induced hepato-cardiac anomalies by inhibiting NF-kB and caspase 3 mediated signalling in rat modelHuman & experimental toxicology. PMID 33887972 · doi:10.1177/09603271211010895
- 2020. Potential anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect of Coccinia grandis plant extract in LPS stimulated-THP-1 cellsEnvironmental science and pollution research international. PMID 32285384 · doi:10.1007/s11356-020-08445-5
- 2017. Antibacterial, antioxidant and cell proliferative properties of Coccinia grandis fruitsAvicenna journal of phytomedicine. PMID 28884080
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
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