Spine Gourd is commonly known as 'Kakrol' in Bengali and is a monsoon vegetable which is not just healthy but also low in calories. It is also known by many other names such as- Kankoda, Kankad, Kantoli, Ban Karola, Small Bitter Gourd, Kantola, etc. As a green vegetable, Spine Gourd has both nutritional and medicinal benefits. It is high on Vitamin A,C, Calcium, Magnesium, Chromium, Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium and many more nutrients.

Spine Gourd's anti-venom property helps in treating snake bites and scorpion stings. It cleanses the skin, kidneys and the liver. Other health conditions where Kakrol or Spine Gourd is used for healing are- respiratory ailments, immunity disorders, and urinary disorders.