Bristly luffa

Scientific name of Bristly luffa: Luffa echinata

Name of Bristly luffa in different languages:-

English: Bitter Sponge Gourd, bitter luffa

Sanskrit: जीमूतः jimuta, Koshataki, Karkati

Hindi: घागरबेल ghagarbel, बिन्दाल bindaal, ककोड़ा kakora

Tamil: பேய்ப்பீர்க்கு pey-p-pirkku

Malayalam: Puttil peera, Mullan peechil

Plant description:

It is a climber vine spreading with tendrils, slightly hairy, spread over bushes and hedges. The leaves are kidney-shaped, simple, arranged alternately, 3 to 5-lobed, margin serrated, and pubescent. Flowers are white, or yellow, and found in axillary panicles. Fruits are spiny, ashy, slightly oblong, color yellowish, and contain many seeds, which id embedded in the pulp, and intensely bitter. Flowering is August-September.

Leaf Arrangement

Useful plant parts:

Fruits, Whole plant

Medicinal uses:

To treat sinusitis, bronchitis, Stomach disorders, colic, edema, epilepsy, inflammation, low BP, Stomach pain etc.

Medicinal properties:

Purgative, Antiseptic,

Chemical contents:

β-Sitosterol, oleanolic acid, cucurbitacin, saponin, echinatin, and flavonoids

Used as an ingredient in:

Brahmi Drakshadi Kashayam

Learn more:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24625944