Luffa ACUTANGULA (L.) Roxb.
| Synonym : | Cucumis acutangulus L. Cucurbita acutangula (L.) Blume Luffa fluminensis Roem. Momordica tubiflora Wall. |
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| Bangla Name : | Jhinga, Jinga, Sataputi. ,Jhiya (Tanchangya). |
| English Name : | Ribbed Gourd. |
| Family : | Cucurbitaceae |
| Disease : | Splenitis, haemorrhoides, ringworms, leprosy, demulcent, diuretic and nutritive, purgative, emetic and anthelmintic properties. |
| Description : | A large climber, with usually 3-fid tendrills. Leaves orbicular in outline, 15-20 cm long, palmately 5-7 angled or sublobate, scabrid. Flowers yellow, large, male flowers in axillary 12-20 flowered racemes, female flowers solitary. Fruit 15-30 cm long, clavate-oblong, tapering towards the base, longitudinally ribbed. |
| Distribution : | Cultivated all over the country. |
| Chemical Constituents : | The plant contains a bitter substance luffin. Seeds contain 20% of a saponin glycoside, enzyme and a fixed oil (Chopra et al., 1992). Flowers and fruits contain free amino acids, arginine, glycine, threonine, lysine, alanine, asparagines, aspartic and glu |
| Uses : | The pounded leaves are applied locally to splenitis, haemorrhoides, ringworms and leprosy. Juice of the fresh leaves is given to children in granular conjunctivitis as a drop, to prevent adhereing of lids at night from excessive meibomian secretion. Fruit |
| Habit : | Climber |