Luffa acutangula (Tòchon) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Luffa acutangula (Tòchon, tea towel, plant-based sponge, Pitenga, torchon, Éponge végétale) — family Cucurbitacées.

Scientific synonyms : Cucumis acutangulus-Linn. C lineatus-Bosc, C megacarpus-G.Don, Luffa acutangula-(L.), L amara-Roxb., Momordica tubiflora-Wall..

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 10 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 87 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Type II diabetes mellitus

   Plant part used: Fruit.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Raj SM (2012)

     Excerpt The Antidiabetic activity of fruits & seeds ethanolic extract of Luffa acutangula (Cucurbitaceae) was studied in a Streptozotocin {STZ) induced diabetic in rats. The 50% ethanolic extract of the fruits of Luffa acutangula showed the significant effect compared with the respective diabetic control group, decrease the blood glucose level at a dose of 200 mg/kg & 400 mg/kg (p<0.001), the standard drug Glibenclamide also showed the significant decrease the blood glucose level after 21 days (241.33-105.33, p<0.001).

   • According to Mohan Raj S (2012)

     Excerpt The Antidiabetic activity of fruits & seeds ethanolic extract of Luffa acutangula (Cucurbitaceae) was studied in a Streptozotocin {STZ) induced diabetic in rats. The results showed that the extract (200 & 400 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced fasting blood sugar of Streptozotocin diabetic rats in a dose-related manner, with maximum hypoglycemic effect at after 21 days.

   • According to Pimple B (2011)

     Excerpt Pimple B et al, Antidiabetic & antihyperlipidemic activity of Luffa acutangula fruit extracts in streptozotocin induced NIDDM rats.

   • According to Quanico JP (2008)

     Excerpt Quanico JP et al, Analgesic & hypoglycemic activities of Bixa orellana, Kyllinga monocephala & Luffa acutangula.

   • According to GHANE SG (2022)

     Excerpt Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) L. Fruits represent number of promising bioactivities such as antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, larvicidal etc.

2. 2

   Cirrhosis, hepatitis, fatty liver disease

   Plant part used: Fruit.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Mishra B (2017)

     Excerpt The alcoholic extract of fruits of the plant Luffa acutangula previously reported for is hepatoprotective activity was fractionated into three parts to chemically identify the most potent bioactive fraction. The hepatoprotective potential of the fraction prepared from extract was studied in vivo in rats as well as ex vivo in isolated hepatocytes against paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity.

   • According to Ibrahim M (2014)

     Excerpt Ibrahim M et al, Phytochemical & hepatoprotective activity of fruit extracts of Luffa acutangula Roxb.

   • According to Abid M (2014)

     Excerpt Abid M et al, Phytochemical & hepatoprotective activity of fruit extracts of Luffa acutangula Roxb var amara.

   • According to Jadhav VB (2010)

     Excerpt Hepatoprotective activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Luffa acutangula (HAELA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was evaluated & probable mechanism(s) of action has been suggested. Hepatoprotective activity of HAELA was due to the decreased levels of serum marker enzymes viz., (AST, ALT, ALP and LDH) and increased total protein including the improvement in histoarchitecture of liver cells of the treated groups as compared to the control group.

   • According to Ulaganathan I (2010)

     Excerpt Ulaganathan I et al, Protective effect of Luffa acutangula (var) amara against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in experimental rats.

3. 3

   Cancer: adjuvant treatment for lymphoma

   Plant part used: Fruit.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Dashora N (2015)

     Excerpt Dashora N et al, In vitro antioxidant & in vivo anti-tumor activity of Luffa acutangula against Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells bearing mice.

   • According to Reddy BP (n.d.)

     Excerpt Reddy BP et al, Antiproliferative & antiangiogenic effects of partially purified Luffa acutangula fruit extracts on human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line, Current Trends in Biotechnol & Pharm,.

   • According to Dashora N (2015)

     Excerpt The objective of the present study is to explore the anticancer activity of the ethanolic & aqueous extracts of the Luffa acutangula in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. After 24 h of the last dose & then eighteen hours of fasting, the mice were sacrificed & antitumor effect of ETOH & aqueous extracts was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable & nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight & hematological parameters of EAC bearing host.

   • According to Vanajothi R (2015)

     Excerpt Luffa acutangula (Cucurbitaceae) is widely used as a traditional medicine in India & was reported to possess various pharmacological activities including its anti-proliferative effects. Five major fractions were collected & evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against non-small cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H460).

   • According to Petropoulos SA (2021)

     Excerpt Luffa oil was the most effective against two of the tested cancer cell lines, namely HeLa (cervical carcinoma) & NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), while it also showed moderate toxicity against non-tumor cells (PLP2 cell line). In regards to particular oils, linseed oils were a rich source of α-linolenic acid, luffa & pumpkin oil were abundant in linoleic acid, while purslane oil presented a balanced composition with an almost similar amount of both fatty acids.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.