Luffa cylindrica Health Dictionary

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  2. Luffa Cylindrica

Luffa Cylindrica: From 1 Different Sources

(Linn.) M. J. Roem.

Synonym: L. aegyptiaca Mill. L. pentandra Roxb.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated throughout greater parts of India.

English: Smooth Luffa, Sponge- gourd, sponge Cucumber.

Ayurvedic: Dhaamaargava, Ma- haakoshtaki, Mahaajaalini, Raa- jakoshataki.

Siddha/Tamil: Mozhukupeerankai, Pikku.

Action: Plant—used against pharyngitis, rhinitis, mastitis, oedema, swellings and burns. Leaves— used for chronic bronchitis. Leaf juice is given for amenorrhoea. Flowers—used for treating migraine. Seeds—alcoholic extract exhibited 9.80% fungitoxic activity.

German Commission E included Luffa aegyptiaca among unapproved herbs. Preparations of Luffa sponge, used as a preventive for infections or cold, as a remedy for colds, nasal catarrh as well as sinusitis and suppuration of the sinus, have been negatively evaluated.

The saponins isolated from aerial parts are effective in controlling obesity, also the side-effects of steroids.

The oleanane saponins, lucyoside AH (at least one component) is effective in preventing loss of hair.

Spongegourd extracts or saponins (ginsenosides and lucyosides) find application in topical medication for skin disorders and haemorrhoids. Lucyo- sides are also used as antitussive.

The roots of the mature plants contain an acidic pentacyclic triterpene, bryonolic acid. Bryonolic acid showed antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activity in experimental animals. An aqueous extract of seeds showed strong fibrinolytic activity. It also showed anticancer activity in transplanted tumours.

Dosage: Leaf, flower, fruit—10- 20 ml juice. (CCRAS.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Imperata Cylindrica

Rausch.

Synonym: I. arundinacea Cyr.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: The hotter parts of India, both in plains and hills, ascending up to 2,300 m in the Himalayas.

English: Thatch Grass.

Ayurvedic: Darbha, Suuchyagra, Yagnika, Yagyabhuushana, Bahir.

Siddha/Tamil: Dharba.

Folk: Daabh.

Action: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

The rhizomes contain flavonoids, together with lignans, graminone A and B. A sesquiterpenoid, cylindrene, and biphenylether compounds, cylindol A and B, are also reported.

Cylindrene and graminone B show inhibitory activity on the contractions of vascular smooth muscles and aorta of rabbit respectively; while cylin- dol A exhibits 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.

The hot aqueous extract of the rhizomes show moderate GTP activity on primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride cy- totoxicity.

The leaves and stem contain cyano- chroic constituents. The roots contain antibacterial substances. The root is used in fevers but does not possess antipyretic activity.

Dosage: Root—50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... imperata cylindrica

Luffa Acutangula

(Linn.) Roxb. var. amara (Roxb.) C. B. Clarke.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India.

English: Ribbed or Ridged Gourd (bitter var.).

Ayurvedic: Katukoshataki, Tik- takoshtaki.

Action: Plant—purgative, diuretic. Used for oedema, splenic enlargement, cough and asthma. Seeds— emetic, expectorant.

The plant contains the oleanane type triterpene saponins. It is reported to exhibit antitumour activity.

The fruit juice is used as a homoeopathic drug in hepatic congestion, irritation and inflammation of gastric mucosa.

Dosage: Leaf, fruit, root—10-20 ml juice. (CCRAS.)... luffa acutangula

Luffa Echinata

Roxb.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal and Gujarat.

English: Bristly Luffa.

Ayurvedic: Devadaali, Devataadaka, Jimuuta, Garaagari, Kothaphala.

Siddha/Tamil: Panibira.

Folk: Bandaal (Varanasi).

Action: Fruit—purgative (intensely bitter and fibrous). An infusion is given in biliary and intestinal colic; also in nephritis and chronic bronchitis.

The fruit contains chrysoeriol and its glycosides as principal flavonoids. Seeds contain cucurbitacin B, triter- pene alcohols, and a saponin with olea- nolic acid as sapogenin.

The alcoholic and ether extracts of the plant showed protection against CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats. The aqueous extract of fruits is beneficial in jaundice as it significantly lowered serum bilirubin level in chlorpromazine-induced jaundice in rats and human patients. The ethano- lic extract (50%) of the plant exhibited hypoglycaemic activity.

The yellow-flowered var. of De- vadaali (Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim, Bihar, Bengal) is equated with Luffa graveolens Roxb.

Dosage: Fruit—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)... luffa echinata

Wild Gourd Or Luffa Sponge

Luffa cylindrica

Description: The luffa sponge is widely distributed and fairly typical of a wild squash. There are several dozen kinds of wild squashes in tropical regions. Like most squashes, the luffa is a vine with leaves 7.5 to 20 centimeters across having 3 lobes.

Some squashes have leaves twice this size. Luffa fruits are oblong or cylindrical, smooth, and many-seeded. Luffa flowers are bright yellow. The luffa fruit, when mature, is brown and resembles the cucumber.

Habitat and Distribution: A member of the squash family, which also includes the watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumber, the luffa sponge is widely cultivated throughout the Tropical Zone. It may be found in a semiwild state in old clearings and abandoned gardens in rain forests and semievergreen seasonal forests.

Edible Parts: You can boil the young green (half-ripe) fruit and eat them as a vegetable. Adding coconut milk will improve the flavor. After ripening, the luffa sponge develops an inedible spongelike texture in the interior of the fruit. You can also eat the tender shoots, flowers, and young leaves after cooking them. Roast the mature seeds a little and eat them like peanuts.... wild gourd or luffa sponge

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