Dear Dr. Shinde, If it is about Coccinia grandis (= C. indica, Cephalandra indica ['Kovai' in Tamil]), then I can say that it is safe to use the fruits at any stage. I have eaten plenty of ripe fruits when they turn fully red. Its sweet. While the green unripe fruits preferred as a vegetable, we generally avoid the fruits which turned reddish inside because they are more bitter and leathery and hence may change the taste and texture of the curry. Also the fact is the fruits that turned reddish inside, have mature prominent seeds that I don't prefer to have in the dish. Otherwise, I don't think it is harm to consume these ripening fruits. You may find a picture of fruits, some turned reddish inside, in this wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sliced_kovals.jpg
Regards Vijayasankar Raman National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Fri, Aug 5, 2011 at 9:16 AM, Rajendra Shinde <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear All, > > I have received this query. Honestly, I have no clue..can some one > contribute? > > > I deaily folllow your column ' kutuhal' in Marathi newspaper 'Loksatta'. > I'm trying to find out the real reason behind a query of mine. I hope you > will help me. My question may sound stupid to you. > I have taught since my childhood that 'tondli' (ivy gourd in english )should > not be eaten when they have become red from inside. No reason was > available. Now in my in laws place they say you can eat it. There is no > harm.So the question is what is the reality. Should we eat or not. If the > answer is no why not. If the answer is yes then why so. Can please take > the effort to find out the solution for this? > > Thanks, > > Shinde >
