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Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources
Vol. 5 (1), March 2014, pp. 88-91
A note on distribution, ethnobotany and economic potential of Hodgsonia
heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook. f . & Thoms. in North-eastern India
D P Semwal*, KC Bhatt, D C Bhandari and N S Panwar
Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi- 110 012, India
Received 19 February 2013; Accepted 12 July 2013
Hodgsonia heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook. f. & Thoms., one of the high oil yielding Cucurbitaceous species, is traditionally
used as food and medicine by several tribal communities inhabiting North-eastern hill (NEH) region of India. These
communities comprise a large part of population of this region and still maintain traditional knowledge associated with the
local floristic wealth. This species is a promising candidate for commercial exploitation as oil, food and medicinal crop.
Keywords: Hodgsonia heteroclita, Cucurbitaceae, Traditional knowledge, High oil yielding species, Economic plant,
North-eastern hill region.
IPC code; Int. cl. (2013.01)−A61K 36/00.
Introduction
Hodgsonia heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook. f. & Thoms.
(Family- Cucurbitaceae) was identified as a promising
oil yielding cucurbit by Chinese scientists in late
1960s due to high oil content in its seeds. This species
is believed to have its origin in North-east India,
China (western Yunan) and Malaysia1, 2, which shows
a wide distribution from southern temperate Asia to
tropical Asia and found to occur in Bangladesh,
China, India, Malaysia and Nepal in between 750-
1500 m a.s.l1, 3-5. Literature indicates that only two
species of Hodgsonia Hook.f. & Thoms. (H.
heteroclita and H. macrocarpa Cogn.) are found in
the world as well as in India5,7. In India, it is
distributed in hilly areas of Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland,
Tripura and Sikkim (Fig. 1) in wild habitat as well as
under domestication in homesteads6. Besides NEH
region (India), this species is widely grown in hills of
upper Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Java, Sumatra and Thailand7. H. heteroclita is
commonly known as Kadam seed, Kapayang, Lard
fruit, Chinese Lardplant and locally as Thebou-lata
(Assam), Dapuy (Arunachal Pradesh), Kathai
(Manipur), Mei-soh-mynthar (Meghalaya), Thithi,
Assa (Nagaland), Kha-um (Mizoram), Goolur
(Tripura) and Kat'hior-pot (Sikkim). In other regions
of South-East Asia, it is locally known as You-zha-
guo (China), Makal (Bangladesh), Darsani or
Ghinphal (Nepal), Béo, Kébao, Muróp rung
(Vietnam), Makklung (Laos), Kāpāyê (Thailand),
Pepayang and Breuh (Malaysia), Aroipichung and
——————
Correspondent author:
E-mail: dinusem@rediffmail.com
Fig. 1—Distribution of Hodgsonia heteroclita in North-
eastern
hill region, India
SEMWAL et al: HODGSONIA HETEROCLITA IN NORTH-EASTERN INDIA
89
Bilungking (Indonesia)5. It is widely used for food
and medicine by different tribal communities of NEH
region, viz. Karbis, Dimasa (Assam); Apatani,
Bogums, Bomis, Nishi (Arunachal Pradesh); Naga,
Kukis (Manipur); Khasi, Garo, Jaintia (Meghalaya);
Angamis, Rengma (Nagaland); Hajong, Chakma,
Tongbe, Riang (Mizoram); Bhil, Chaimal, Mizel
and Orang (Tripura) since time immemorial.
H. heteroclita is a semi-woody, dioecious perennial
climber grows up to 25-30 m height. Leaves simple,
25-35 x 30-45 cm in diam., coriaceous, 3-5 lobed.
Flowers yellow outside, white within, fimbriate
fringes up to 15 cm; male flower raceme, female
flower solitary. Fruits pomiform, 6-20 x 20-25 cm
in diam., compressed globose, reddish brown
(on maturity), 10-12 grooved, tomentose. Seeds
flattish, 4-6, ellipsoid, 5-8 x 2-4 cm in diam., covered
with woody wrappings (2-3 layers) and embedded in
spongy and juicy pulp (Plate 1). Flowering and
fruiting occur in March-December in different parts of
world1, while in NEH region, the plant begins to
flower in March and continues throughout the
summer and the fruits ripen in winter (November-
December). A key issue in the management of this
species is the processing of the fruits and seeds (nuts),
respectively for its utilization as food and medicine.
The seeds are embedded - usually as twos - in a stone-
like structure (‘pyrene’) which makes extraction of
the seeds laborious and thus expensive3,8,9.
Materials and Methods
A semi-structured questionnaire survey method
was adopted to record the distribution and
ethno-botanical information on H. heteroclita among
the tribal communities (N=25) residing in Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura during the year
2011-12. For this purpose, old experienced folk and
local medicine men were interacted. The main focus
of present study was to document the local existing
knowledge associated with the species and to record
local names of plant and plant parts used for various
purposes through conducting survey and group
interview among the tribal communities. Relevant
literature was also surveyed to record its common,
local names and ethnic uses. The herbarium and seed
specimens (HS20671 and SS2935) are deposited in
the National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants (NHCP),
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources
(NBPGR), New Delhi.
Results and Discussion
During the field surveys, it was observed that most
of the tribal communities of NEH region were
very much acquainted with the different uses of
H. heteroclita. Though primarily a wild-growing
species, the plant was also observed being
domesticated in backyards/ kitchen gardens in most of
the tribal villages for consumption of its seed (nut) as
food and medicine. Its seed are also sold in the
local market. Karbis and Dimasa tribes of Assam
use its kernels after roasting or baking and seed oil
(62-71 %) for cooking food and preparation of other
food items, beverages, etc. Apatani, Bogums, Bomis
and Nishi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh; Khasi, Garo,
and Jaintia tribes of Meghalaya; Chakma, Hajong,
Tongbe and Riang tribes of Mizoram use roasted
seeds by mixing these with different food items
mainly to garnish vegetarian and non-vegetarian food
items. Naga and Kuki tribes of Manipur and Angamis
and Rengma of Nagaland use a tea spoon of crushed
seeds for the treatment of intestinal worms. The
roasted seeds/endosperm by mixing with other food
items is given to the women and children as energetic
food. In Nagaland, Angamis and Rengma tribes apply
the fruit pulp to cure bacterial infections of feet. Naga
also uses extract of this plant in various types of
curry. Seed powder is given in indigestion and
stomach pain. Bhil, Chaimal, Mizel and Orang tribes
of Tripura apply leaf juice on fresh cuts and wounds
Plate 1− a. Hodgsonia heteroclita in domesticated habitat; b. Fruits and seeds; c. Endosperms
INDIAN J NAT PROD RESOUR, MARCH 2014
90
to stop bleeding and also on ulcers. The oil is also
used as a base for medicines in Eastern India.
Based on utilization pattern of H. heteroclita among
the tribal communities of NEH region, it was observed
that in all surveyed states, the plant is being used
(82-98 %) for both the food and medicinal purposes
indicating the close association of the species with their
cultural life and frequent availability of plant
population in the region (Fig. 2). For both the
categories, more than 95 % tribals in Arunachal
Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland hold knowledge about
H. heteroclite in comparison to tribal communities of
other states.The results showed that the tribal
communities are the main custodian for maintaining
indigenous knowledge on local floristic wealth.
The leaves of H. heteroclita are reported to have
good medicinal properties. The dried leaves are burnt
and the smoke is inhaled, or the juice from young
shoots and leaves is squeezed into the nostrils to allay
irritation from small insects in Malaya and Java1.
The extract/decoction from boiled leaves is taken
internally, both for nose complaints and to reduce
fevers. The ashes from burnt leaves are also used to
heal the wounds. In Sarawak (Malaysia), seed oil is
used to anoint the mother’s body after childbirth; it
also forms the base of embrocations containing
ashes from the leaves of coconut palm and
Kaempferia. Hodgsonia has become a rare species in
Asia’s tropical forests due to its exploitation for
medicinal purposes. Yet, it has a long history of use
as excellent oil for cooking and its nuts are liked
by local communities. The nuts and oil have a
slight taste of pork fat, hence locally it is named as
"pork fat nut"8.
The oil-rich seeds of H. heteroclita are an
important source of food for tribal people.
The kernels are occasionally eaten raw, they are
slightly bitter in presence of papery covering,
possibly due to an unidentified alkaloid or
glucoside, but perfectly safe to eat after roasting or
baking. More commonly, the seeds are roasted,
after which they taste like pork scraps or lard;
many mountain peoples consider these roasted
seeds for a good delicacy. In addition to eating the
seeds alone, the Naga incorporate them into various
types of curry7. Economically, the outstanding
feature of H. heteroclita is the nutritional value of
its seeds. They show very high seed-oil content,
high degrees of unsaturated fatty acids, as well
as proteins1 0. They are also reported to have a
very pleasant taste without covering of kernel11- 12.
In comparison to various other cucurbits grown
in NEH region, seed kernel of H. heteroclita is a
valuable source of fat and protein7. Though the
flesh of H. heteroclita fruit is inedible, the
tribal communities residing in hilly areas of NEH
region use its oil rich nut/seeds as an
important source of food and medicine because its
seed also contains various useful nutrients,
besides oil (Table 1). Its fat rich endosperm
is cooked with food items mainly to increase
the taste.
The high amount of linoleic acid (33.9 %) is
considered to be an essential component in human
diet. It is also precursor of arachidic acid which is
supposed to be essential for normal growth and
maintenance of skin13. Its oil is used as a substitute for
Fig. 2—Utilization pattern of Hodgsonia heteroclita
among the
Tribals of North-eastern India
Table 1—Nutrient and fatty acid composition of
H. heteroclita
Nutrient composition
Availability (% ) References
62.71 7
66.50 14
60-70 1
Fat/oil
72-77 10
31.25 7 Protein
21.05 14
17.28 7 Palmitic acid
37.30 14
9.36 7 Stearic acid
8.7 14
27.10 14 Oleic acid
21.76 7
33.90 7 Linoleic acid
24.60 14
Arachidic acid 6.86 7
SEMWAL et al: HODGSONIA HETEROCLITA IN NORTH-EASTERN INDIA
91
coconut oil for cooking in Malaya and as medicinal
oil in Borneo14. Because of search for new economic
species/products as well as the trend towards organic
and biodiversity protecting farming systems, the
demand of H. heteroclita in international market
would certainly be increased tremendously as an high
oil yielding species in coming years.
Conclusion
Being a high value locally important species in
NEH region, H. heteroclita needs to be planted in
large scale as potential high oil yielding underutilized
species in the region so that the socio-economic
condition of tribal communities could be up-graded
by adding value. Based on the information recorded
during current survey, germplasm with high oil
content should be collected and conserved on priority
for further studies. In addition, the agro-technique of
this species should be developed for cultivation and as
a source of income. Keeping in view of its value as
edible seeds (as nuts), pulp/flower/buds (as
garnishing) and roasted seeds/pulp/leaf extract (as
medicine) this may be considered as a prospective
species for cultivation.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Director, National
Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi for
providing facilities and valuable guidance to
undertake this study. We also extend our thanks to all
the collectors who have provided data and relevant
information and helped in compilation of information
and sharing their field experiences. We also thank all
the tribes of North-eastern regions who share their
indigenous knowledge to us.
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