The scientific name of the Kekiri plant is Cucumis melo, it belongs to the CUCURBITACEAE family. Its fruit is eaten as a vegetable. The fruit is fleshy, comes in round and elongated shapes, monocolored or longitudinally stripped. Even though Kakiri belongs to the  CUCURBITACEAE family the flesh cannot be eaten raw as cucumber. Kekiri has many health benefits and it is used in Ayurvedic treatment for Urinary stones, Insomnia, Headaches, Jaundice, Constipation, Urinary problems, Urinary tract infections, Body pains, Nausea, Skin diseases, Excessive thirst, Burning sensation. Seeds are used to make medicine. Although Kekiri has many medicinal properties, it can be considered as a vegetable that has been neglected by many.

Kekiri is cultivated in the dry zone in Sri lanka. This plant is grown in India, Korea, China and Japan in addition to Sri Lanka. Its major biologically active compounds are the vitamins C, pro-vitamin A,  folic acid, the phenolic phytochemicals and the toxic cucurbitacins.

The most important medicinal properties of Kekiri are its ability to prevent the formation of stones in the urinary system and its ability to act against urinary tract infections. Kakiri is a cooling diuretic and is used in painful and frequent passing of urine and retention of urine. Especially, kakiri seeds have the most medicinal properties. There are many decoctions prepared with Kekiri seeds. When kakiri is cooked the seeds are removed because they give bitter taste to the curry.  Good results can also be gained by consuming ground seeds as a drink. Some people use the flesh of the fruit to make a drink. 

When the Kekiri curry is cooked it should be done the same way as  the young jackfruit curry (Polos curry) is cooked. You should roast the chili powder and curry powder first then add with other ingredients, cook with coconut milk until the milk is done. It is a delicious curry, I like to eat this curry with dosa. 

According to Ayurveda one of the treatments for urinary problems using kekiri seeds is given below. 

“Kekiri seed ,Sahinda lunu (rock salt), cardamoms and Thipple (long pepper) taken in equal quantities and powdered finely. It is to be taken in fermented toddy in the morning. The dosage is 2 tablespoons of powder in a glass of toddy Or  fermented rice water (halpana watura)  in cases where there is difficulty in passing or retention of urine."