The cucurbitaceae family commonly known as the gourd family is an excellent example of a plant family with many economically useful species. An illustrated compilation of philippine medicinal plants by godofredo stuart, with botanical information, chemical properties, folkloric uses and medicinal studies. Luffa acutangula is a vigorous annual climbing plant producing long stems that scramble over the ground or climb into nearby vegetation, supporting themselves by means of tendrils. Sep 17, 2019 luffa charcoal, which is prepared by heating luffa fibers in a closed container, is applied directly to the skin for shingles in the face and eye region. Barringtonia acutangula was commonly used in india by tribal people for the treatment of liver disorders, diarrheal diseases, eye diseases, spleenic disorders and worm infestation. Mistakenly sowed seed beside regular okra in early may. Luffa cylindrica herb uses, benefits, cures, side effects. Introduction plant plays an important role from ancient times where man used plant as drug to cure various diseases. Genus luffa an ethnopharmacological and phytochemical. In this report, the traditional and medicinal uses of luffa cylindrica were explored and the shortcomings associated with its uses were highlighted and discussed. A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses.
They are native in most countries of the world, especially in the tropics, where they are cultivated in every country, state, and province. Loofahs belong to the genus luffa in the family cucurbitaceae. A natural jaundice remedy, the fruits of luffa acutangula ridge gourd belonging to family cucurbitaceae are grown, harvested before maturity and is very popular in asia. It is a healthy food and contains good amount of fiber, vitamins. The young fruits of luffa aegyptiaca and luffa acutangula are also eaten as vegetables in some countries. The book covers different parameters of medicinal plants cultivation and various ways of their uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. It is also used for nasal swelling and sinus problems. Little is known of its optimal production practices, genetics or fruit quality. The use of bioactive plantderived compounds is on the rise, because the main preoccupation with the use of synthetic drugs is the side effects which can be even. Angled loofah, chinese okra, ribbed gourd luffa acutangula. Pick immature fruits for vegetable uses when they age 1018 inches long. Journal of medicinal plants studies traditional and medicinal uses. The fibers can be boiled in water, which is then used as medicine.
Ethnobotanical uses the ethnobotanical survey of the hilly areas in maharashtra revealed that very fine powder of fruits of l. Traditional and medicinal uses of luffa cylindrica. Mature fruits are used as natural cleaning sponges. They have fruits that are edible when young and green, developing a fibrous structure when mature.
Cucurbitaceae is a popular vegetable in india and other asian countries. Prime luffa sponge uses and indications include pains in chest and flanks, winddamp rheumatism, meridians spasm, plugged milk dusts, arthritis, lungheat cough, and abscesses. Luffa acutangula angled luffa,ridged luffa,vegetable gourd. Roxbs fruit revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, carotenoids and terpenoids and the absence of flavonoids, tannins and anthraquinones. It is a healthy food and contains good amount of fiber, vitamins and minerals including vitamin b2, vitamin c, carotene, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron and small quantities of iodine and fluorine. Review on luffa acutangula l ethnobotany, phytochemistry. Preliminary phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of. Luffa cylindrical, otherwise known as sponge gourd is a fibrous plant with fruits containing black seeds. It is also grown as a houseplant in places with colder climates. Seeds of luffa acutangula showed the presence of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid palmatic, stearic, oleic, linoleic acid.
Luffa acutangula is a medicinal plant, usually referred as a ridge gourd. We are still open for nursery plant sales, and look forward to your live root and plant orders. Common names include freshwater mangrove, itchytree and mangopine. Different parts of luffa acutangula have been used extensively by different ethnic groups in india for medicinal purposes. Luffa acutangula is a potentially important export crop for kenya. Phytochemistry phytochemical analysis of fruit extracts of luffa acutangula extracts has revealed the presence of sterols, glycosides, saponins, carbohydrates, flavinoids and triterpenes 1. Medicinal uses ayurvedic literature revealed that fruits of l. Luffa charcoal, which is prepared by heating luffa fibers in a closed container, is applied directly to the skin for shingles in the face and eye region. Ridge gourd as whole, seeds and dried crusts are all used for medicinal purposes. A popular vegetable in southeast asia, where the mildly bitter flavour, the slightly spongy texture and sweet juiciness are appreciated. Biological and medicinal uses of plant luffa cylindrical plant is bitter tonic, emetic, diuretic and purgative and useful in asthma, skin diseases and splenic enlargement. Luffa acutangula, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer, cns depressant.
The highly versatile luffa plant edible flowers, squash, bath sponges, and more. Some people use it for arthritis pain, muscle pain, and chest pain. Clarke, a wild or feral type with extremely bitter fruits and confined to india. Common names ridged gourd, chinese okra, ribbed loofah, ribbed gourd, angled loofah and sinqua. The fibers can be boiled in water, which is then used as medicine luffa is taken by mouth for treating and preventing colds. But there isnt enough information to know if luffa is safe when taken as medicine. Luffa fruit towel gourd is used in cooking as well as to treat various health ailments. Luffa cylindrica, the sponge gourd, egyptian cucumber or vietnamese luffa, is an annual species of vine cultivated for its fruit, native to south and southeast asia. The seeds possess purgative, emetic and anthelmintic properties 3. Luffa aegyptiaca is an evergreen annual climber growing to 15 m 49ft by 0.
Luffa acutangula the chinese okra or angled loofah. Oct 22, 2018 traditional uses and ethnopharmacology. In this report, the traditional and medicinal uses of luffa cylindrica were explored. Some people use it for arthritis pain, muscle pain, and chest pain women use luffa.
Its young, tender and mild flavored pods indeed are one of the very popular vegetables featuring in the indian, chinese and filipinos cuisine. Recommended dosage is from 5 to 15 grams in decoction or 1. Patola, luffa acutangula, angled luffa, vegetable sponge. However, the safety of using luffa charcoal for shingles is unknown. It is helpful to lower the blood sugar, constipation, weight loss, and hypoglycemia, enhance immune system, weight loss and detoxifies the body. The phytochemical screening conducted on ethanol extract of luffa acutangula l. Luffa ridge gourd nutrition facts and health benefits. One mature luffa sponge will produce at least 30 seeds. A potent ial medicinal pla nt 62 monocephala and luffa acutang ula, luffa acutangula showed the most potent glucose level decreasing e ffect.
Immature fruits of lessbitter cultivars of luffa acutangula were used as a vegetable. These two species are used by traditional medicinal practitioners for treating. Luffa acutangula is commercially grown for its unripe fruits as a vegetable. The juice of the fruit of koshataki is given for the purpose of emesis and purgation, done as poorvakarma in panchakarma therapy. The plant is used for emesis and purgation in the treatment of vitiated kapha and pitta dosha respectively. Luffa or ridge gourd is an elongated, cylindrical fruit pod in the cucurbitaceaegourd family of vegetables. The decoction of luffa acutangula is given in a dose of 1020ml to treat various skin diseases. Frontiers therapeutic potential of luffa acutangula. Uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients in luffa cylindrica. Luffa acutangula cucurbitaceae, a perennial plant grows mainly in india, southeast asia, china, japan, egypt, and other parts of africa, it is widely used in the traditional indian medicinal system to treat various health conditions. Oct 22, 2018 luffa acutangula cucurbitaceae, a perennial plant grows mainly in india, southeast asia, china, japan, egypt, and other parts of africa, it is widely used in the traditional indian medicinal system to treat various health conditions. The fresh juice of the leaves of barringtonia acutangula is given with honey in a dose of 1012 ml to treat diarrhea. Luffa is taken by mouth for treating and preventing colds. Luffa cylindrica, phenolics, lavonoids, oleanolic acid, ascorbic acid.
Conclusion the selected luffa acutangula as a whole is the source of the secondary metabolites i. The plant has been used in jaundice, diabetes, hemorrhoids, dysentery, headache, ringworm infection, and leprosy. Sep 17, 2019 luffa is likely safe for most people when applied directly to the skin as a sponge. Its fruit slightly resembles a cucumber or zucchini with ridges. In foods, young luffa fruits are eaten as vegetables. About 2000 species of medicinal plantsin india have high.
Pdf traditional and medicinal uses of luffa cylindrica. Loofah, genus luffa, genus of seven species of annual climbing vines of the gourd family cucurbitaceae, native to the old world tropics. Pdf luffa cylindrical, otherwise known as sponge gourd is a fibrous plant with fruits containing black seeds. Luffa uses the use of the luffa fruit is dependent on its growth stage. When the mature fruit is allowed to dry, a fibrous, spongelike structure remains. Introduction nature has provided a complete storehouse of remedies to cure ailments of mankind. Barringtonia acutangula is a species of barringtonia native to coastal wetlands in southern asia and northern australasia, from afghanistan east to the philippines and queensland. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences and medicine ijpsm. The synonymous botanical specific epithet aegyptiaca was given to this plant in the 16th century when european botanists were. Home shop luffa luffa cylindrica, packet of 10 seeds, organic we at strictly medicinal seeds are dedicated to providing medicinal plants to the people. It ranges from central and eastern asia to southeastern asia. Roxbs fraction resulted in the identification of six compounds. It covers medicinal plants containing alkaloids, steroids flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, additives and. The highly versatile luffa plant natural health mother.
The cucurbitaceae consists of many important food plants such as melon, pumpkin, squash. Names of luffa cylindrica in various languages of the world are also given. List of various diseases cured by luffa cylindrica. How luffa cylindrica is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. The fruits of luffa cylindrica are smooth and cylindrical shaped. Review on luffa acutangula ijcpr, volume 7, issue 3, may june 2016 page 152 in taste, shape ovoidoblong4,5. In maharashtra, india, dodaka ridged gourdluffa and ghosavala smooth luffa are common vegetables prepared with either crushed dried peanuts or with beans. In china and the philippines, the luffa or patola is eaten as a green vegetable in various dishes. Health benefits of luffa, nutrition fact sponge gourd. Young fruit can be eaten raw like cucumber or cooked like squash, while. Luffa acutangula best journal for pharmacy and medicine ijpsm. In cosmetics, powdered luffa is used in skin care products to reduce swelling and detoxify the skin. Immature fruits, which are dark green with tender ridges, are used in soups and curries or as a cooked vegetable.
The seeds of barringtonia acutangula is made into paste and used as collyrium in the diseases of eye. It is used internally for rheumatism, backache, internal hemorrhage, chest pains as well as hemorrhoids. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Luffa acutangula is commonly grown in temperate climates, common in kashmir used as vegetable, photographed from delhi from a nursery. Luffa luffa cylindrica, packet of 10 seeds, organic. Genus luffa international journal of pharma sciences and research. Additionally, another species of luffa, called ball luffa luffa operculata l. Benefits, remedies, research, side effects koshataki luffa acutangula is a herb mentioned in ayurveda for the treatment of skin diseases, splenomegaly, swelling and for inducing purgation and emesis as part of shodhana therapy in panchakarma. Food facts the most common use of the ridge gourd fruit is to be cooked. The immature fruit is a nutritious vegetable and is popular in asian cuisine.
Welcome to the india biodiversity portal a repository of information designed to harness and disseminate collective intelligence on the biodiversity of the indian subcontinent. Therefore the objective of the current study is to develop an efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro regeneration of. Luffa is possibly safe when taken by mouth in food amounts. Bitter luffa seeds and dry crusts are also available and can be used for the same purpose. The medicinal properties of luffa acutangula peel, flesh and seeds extract may be due to the presence of above mentioned phytochemicals.
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