Case series / case reportindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-FRU-112 standard review
Poisoning from bitter bottle gourd juice
Gastrointestinal toxicity due to bitter bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)--a report of 15 cases.
Overview
Puri R et al.. Indian J Gastroenterol 2011 · PMID 21986853 · DOI 10.1007/s12664-011-0110-z
Fifteen people who drank bitter bottle gourd juice developed vomiting, bleeding stomach lesions and low blood pressure; all recovered.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Describe bitter gourd toxicity.
- How was the study done?
Case series.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
15 patients.
- What was actually found?
GI injury, hypotension.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Never consume bitter-tasting gourds or squash.
- What are the study's limitations?
Case series.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Kernel of C-FRU-02 only.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It does not apply to sweet melons.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Puri R et al.
- Journal
- Indian J Gastroenterol
- Year
- 2011
- Identifier
- PMID 21986853 DOI 10.1007/s12664-011-0110-z
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref works API
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Not stated in abstract.
2. Research question
What toxicity follows drinking bitter bottle gourd juice?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Case series / case report – Case series
- Population
15 patients after bitter bottle gourd juice
- Country
India
- Period
Not stated
- Sample size
15
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Patients with toxicity after bitter bottle gourd juice.
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Bitter bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) juice
- Comparator
None
- Endpoints
Clinical and endoscopic findings
- Statistical methods
Descriptive
5. Actual results
- Results
Abdominal pain, vomiting, haematemesis, diarrhoea and hypotension within 15 min to 6 h; oesophagitis, gastric erosions, ulcers, duodenitis on endoscopy; all recovered in 1-4 days with supportive care.
- Absolute risks
Not applicable
- Authors' conclusion
Bitter bottle gourd can cause gastrointestinal toxicity; supportive management.
6. Strengths
- Clinical detail
7. Weaknesses
- Case series; bitter juice used as alternative medicine
- Abstract only
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- high
- Rationale
Case series.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Documents the real but narrow cucurbitacin risk from bitter cucurbits (kernel of C-FRU-02); not about normal sweet melons.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Comparable German case (I-FRU-05).
13. Overall methodological judgement
Confirms 'bitter = discard'.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | high |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
None.