Fructus ecballi

Fruit extract of the spray cucumber, highly toxic!

The plant contains cucurbitacins (poisonous bitter substances).

The injection cucumber was formerly used as (drastic) laxative.

Extracts from the seeds of Ecballium elaterium have antitrypsin activity (Attard E et al. 2008).

In animal experiments, extracts of Ecballium elaterium have been shown to have an anti-adhesive effect on postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions (Okur MH et al.2014).

1. Attard E et al (2008) Antitrypsin activity of extracts from Ecballium elaterium seeds. Fitoterapia 79:226-228.
2. Okur MH et al (2014) Intra-peritoneal administration of Ecballium elaterium diminishes postoperative adhesions. Acta Cir Bras 29:639-643.