Luffa cylindrica

Botanical name : Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) M. Roem.(L. acgypliaca Mill.)
Family : Cucurbitaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Koshataki, Mahakoshataki, Tiktakosataki

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Katu
Guna : Snigdha, Teekshna
Veerya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Sponge gourd. Vegetable sponge, Wash sponge
Hindi : Khiya tori
Malayalam : Kattupiccil. Puttilpiram, Kattupiram. Perurhpfram

Distribution: Throughout India, wild in waste lands especially along the coastal areas and also cultivated

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
A large succulent tendril climber grows on hedges, and shrubs. Leaves orbicular-reniform, simple, palmately, 5-lobed, scabrous and punctate, glabrous except the pubescent nerves beneath: male flowers in axillary racemes, female flowers solitary, usually from the axils: fruits large, cylindric, or fusiform, smooth. 1 2.5-30 cm long, 10 - ribbed. Seeds black or grey, laterally compressed, narrowly winged.
Parts used: fruits, seeds

Properties and uses:
Plant cures vitiated Kapha, pitta, jaundice, infective hepatitis, constipation, skin diseases, splenomegali, piles, bronchitis and tumours. The seeds used in skin diseases. The application of crushed tender fruit in milk through nose (Nasya) cures Jaundice.