Chinese Medical Journal

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USE OF PUMPKIN SEED WITH ARECA NUT IN TAPEWORM INFECTIONS 19

He stated that all the 5 patients were cured, because fecal examination two years later showed that no eggs and no more segments were passed out. The species of the worm was not mentioned. In recommending treatment with pumpkin seeds he emphasized the importance of using large doses of 200-400 gm for children and 400-700 gm for adults.

In the last three years we have investigated the mode of action of pumpkin seeds on tapeworms by making experimental and clinical investigations. Our results show that while pumpkin seeds have also a paralytic effect on tapeworms, their mode of action is quite different from that of areca nut. Pumpkin seeds act chiefly on the posterior part of the worm and areca nut on the anterior part. This being so, the combined use of pumpkin seeds and areca nut in the treatment of tapeworm infections (especially T. saginata) gives a high percentage of cure. The present paper is a report on the result of this investigation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The investigation consisted of two parts, namely: 1. to ascertain the action of pumpkin seeds on tapeworms by in vitro tests, 2. to use different preparations of pumpkin seeds and areca nut singly or in combination in the treatment of human cases.

The areca nut used was in slices purchased from traditional Chinese drugstores. Decoction with water was prepared. The decoction was sometimes titrated with a freshly prepared 2.5 per cent solution of gelatin to remove the tannin which has an irritative property. After filtration, the clear amber colored solution was reduced by evaporation to its original volume and used for in vitro tests or on clinical cases. About 15 gm of gelatin is required for each 500 gm of areca nut(2).

With regard to pumpkin seeds, the material usually recommended in the literature is raw seeds. We used, however, roasted seeds* which are easily obtainable from grocery shops. (Roasted pumpkin seeds are popularly served in tea shops along with water melon seeds.) The husks were removed and the kernels were used either as they were or after being ground up into a fine powder. Sometimes, pumpkin seed powder was boiled in water for about half an hour and filtered, and the filtrate was used for in vitro tests or clinical trials. Oil-free powder of pumpkin seeds was obtained by removing the oil through ether extraction. Decoction was prepared with the oil-free powder; it was filtrated and then used for in vitro tests or clinical trials.

In the treatment of clinical cases, whole kernels of pumpkin seeds, powdered whole kernels, oil-free powder, the filtrate of decoction, and

* Roasting of pumpkin seeds is done somewhat similarly as chestnuts are roasted in China. The seeds are mixed with sand and are heated in an open metal

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