Luffa
Scientific Name(s): Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb., Luffa aegyptiaca Mill., Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem., Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn.
Common Name(s): Dishcloth gourd, Loofah, Luffa, Smooth loofah, Sponge gourd, Vegetable sponge
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 1, 2019.
Clinical Overview
Use
Clinical studies in humans are limited. However, in vitro and animal models indicate hypolipidemic, antifungal, antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory pharmacological activities of luffa plant.
Dosing
The appropriate dosage regimen of luffa depends on factors such as age, health, and other conditions. At this time, there is not enough information to determine an appropriate range of doses for luffa.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Luffa is safe when used as food. However, information regarding adverse reactions with the use of luffa in higher dosages is lacking.
Toxicology
There is no definite information regarding toxicity.
Scientific Family
- Cucurbitaceae
Botany
Luffa is an herbaceous perennial vine bearing yellow flowers that bloom during daylight.Marr 2005 The plant is monoecious; male flowers occur in raceme formations, whereas female flowers are solitary.Marr 2005, Partap 2012 The calyxes are green and campanulate,Miller 1768 and the scabrid leaves are alternate and palmate, lobed slightly to deeply, with 5 to 7 veins.Marr 2005, Miller 1768, Partap 2012 The leaf base is cordiform, the margins are entire or serrate, and the apices are acute or acuminate. Petioles are as long as or longer than the leaf blade.Miller 1768, Partap 2012 The vine climbs by axillary tendrils, attaining 10 m in length.Miller 1768 Stems are green, slender, subcylindrical or angular, ribbed, and glabrous or puberulous. The fruit is trigonal and slightly sulcate and grows from 20 to 45 cm long, with numerous seeds that are 10 to 13 mm long, elliptical, black, and smooth. The pericarp, dehiscent by apical pores, is crustose, and the mesocarp forms a network of fibers.Miller 1768, Partap 2012 When the fruit matures and dries, the remaining mesocarp is dried, tangled vascular bundles that form a durable, dense, and stiff but compressible fibrous matrix.Marr 2005
History
L. aegyptiaca is native to South and Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, where it is known locally as "mu phuong" or "Vietnamese luffa."USDA 2000 It is common in Egypt, where it is cultivated in different areas. The German anatomist and botanist Johann Vesling first described the plant in European botanical literature in 1638 as the "Egyptian cucumber,"Vesling 1638 and because the Europeans first learned of if its cultivation in Egypt, the species was named aegyptiaca.USDA 2000 In the folk medicine of Sainai, Egypt, the seeds were reputed to have value in controlling diabetes mellitus.Vesling 1638 The young fruit of the plant resembles a cucumber and is consumed as a vegetable; the skin is usually peeled off and the remainder is either fried or curried, or eaten as a raw salad.Thayyil 2011, USDA 2000 Unlike the young fruit, the fully ripened fruit is strongly fibrous and inedible and is used to make scrubbing sponges.USDA 2000 L. aegyptiaca is also called "smooth luffa" to distinguish it from the ridged luffa (L. acutangula [L.] Roxb.), which is used for the same purposes.USDA 2000 The seeds and sponge of the old fruits are used in traditional Chinese medicine as an anthelmintic, stomachic, and antipyretic.El-Fiky 1996, Marr 2005 The fruit has been used in leprosy, spleen diseases, piles, fever, hematuria, and bronchitis.Nirmal 2009 The plant is occasionally grown as an ornamental for its large, beautiful yellow flowers.
Chemistry
L. aegyptiaca fruit has more than 100 components, including mucilage, reducing sugars, resins, alkaloids, organic acids, tannins, saponins, and proteins.Karaye 2013 It also contains monounsatuarated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, fiber, flavonoids, niacin, and ascorbic acid, which help to reduce hypercholesterolemia.Karaye 2012 Hydrocarbons identified from the fruit of L. aegyptiaca are n-tricosane, n-tetracosane, n-hexacosane, n-heptacosane, and noctacosane; identified fatty acids are nanodecane-6-ol, eicosane-6-ol, dieicosane-6-ol, and tetraeicosane-6-ol.Nirmal 2009 Antioxidant compounds, such as p-coumaric acid, 1-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucose, 1-O-p-coumaroyl-beta-D-glucose, 1-O-caffeoyl- beta-D-glucose, 1-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) glucose, diosmetin-7-O-beta-Dglucuronide methyl ester, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester, and luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester, have been identified in luffa.Du 2006
Uses and Pharmacology
Limited clinical data are available. One report shows that water extracts from fresh sponge gourds exhibited more than 80% inhibition of nitric oxide generation stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.Thayyil 2011 In vitro, luffacylin, a ribosome-inactivating peptide found in luffa, inhibited Mycosphaerella arachidicola and Fusarium oxysporum, demonstrating antifungal properties.Parkash 2002 Flavonoids in the plant have been shown to have antioxidant properties.Du 2006 The edible parts of luffa have been taken orally for the treatment and prevention of colds. It is also used for nasal swelling and sinus problems and as an ingredient in over-the-counter nasal products. Luffa has been used for dyslipidemic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, and diuretic purposes.Thayyil 2011
Anti-inflammatory activity
Animal data
Intraperitoneal administration of a water decoction of L. cylindrica inhibited carrageenan-induced plantar edema in rats, demonstrating anti-inflammatory activity.Muthumani 2010
Clinical data
Limited clinical data are available for the use of luffa in humans.
Diabetes
Animal data
A study investigated the effect of oral administration of ethanolic extracts of L. aegyptiaca seeds on blood glucose levels in healthy rats and rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes. L. aegyptiaca reduced glucose levels with potency similar to that of the biguanide metformin.El-Fiky 1996
Clinical data
Limited clinical data are available for the use of luffa in humans.
Hypolipidemic effect
Animal data
In 1 study, New Zealand white rabbits with induced hypercholesterolemia were fed a normal diet, supplemented with 1% cholesterol and 10% ground nut oil for 8 weeks. One group was given a methanolic extract of L. aegyptiaca fruits at a dosage of 300 mg/kg/day. The methanolic extract reduced serum total cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 52%, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 22%; it also increased the serum high-density lipoprotein by 38%.Thayyil 2011 Luffa has hypolipidemic activity and cholesterol-reducing activity in animal models.Thayyil 2011
Clinical data
Limited clinical data are available for the use of luffa in humans.
Dosing
The appropriate dosage regimen of luffa depends on factors such as age, health, and other conditions. At this time, there is not enough information to determine an appropriate range of doses for luffa.
Pregnancy / Lactation
Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
Luffa is safe for most people when used directly on the skin as a sponge. There is no evidence pertaining to interactions with oral use.
Adverse Reactions
Luffa is safe when used as food. However, information regarding adverse reactions with the use of luffa in higher dosages is lacking.
Toxicology
There is no definite information regarding toxicity. In a toxicological study in rats, L. aegyptiaca fruit extracts were administered in doses ranging from 100 to 2,000 mg without mortality.Thayyil 2011
References
Disclaimer
This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.
This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.
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