Trichosanthes kirilowii is a perennial climber growing to 6 m in the family Cucurbitaceae found in South Korea, Japan, and China. It is in flower from July to September, and the fruits and the roots are harvested in the autumn. Fruits and leaves can be cooked and used as a vegetable. The root is a source of edible starch.

The plant is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine, where it is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs, also known as Chinese cucumber in English. The root tuber of T. kirilowii is said to drain heat, generate fluids, transform phlegm, drain lung heat, and moisten lung dryness. In oriental herbal medicine, the root tuber treats cancer, jaundice, abscess, and diabetes. Recent studies showed that the root extract of T. kirilowii and the active compounds of the root have anti-oxidant activity and melanin synthesis inhibition activity, respectively.