2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Luffa prickly (lat. Luffa echinata) - one of the species of lianas of the genus Luffa (lat. Luffa), ranked by botanists in the Pumpkin family (lat. Cucurbitaceae). Unlike its relatives with the names "Egyptian Luffa" and "Sharp-ribbed Luffa", this liana did not want to become food for people, and therefore acquired small and bitter-tasting fruits. The bitterness of the fruit is given by a complex substance called "cucurbitacin", which in certain proportions turns into a healer, fighting a number of human diseases, including cancer.
What's in your name
We have learned about the origin of the generic name "Luffa" in other articles. As for the specific epithet "echinata", in the Russian name it turned into the word "prickly", based on the prickly appearance of the fruits of this species.
The plant has many names that are assigned by the local population of the countries in which Luffa prickly grows. The plant is especially popular in India, but it also grows in many regions of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and in a number of countries in tropical Africa.
Description
Luffa prickly is a climbing vine, the thin stem of which has acquired tenacious tendrils that help it climb the support closer to the sun.
The stem is covered with numerous petioles, the length of which reaches twelve centimeters, holding five-lobed leaf plates of very picturesque leaves, turning the liana into a solid green patterned carpet.
In the axils of the leaves, liana flowers are born, the corollas of which are painted white, and the sizes are much more modest than the yellow flowers of Egyptian Luffa and Sharp-ribbed Luffa. But, the nature of the flowers is the same, that is, male flowers, gathering together in five to twelve pieces, form a racemose inflorescence, and female flowers prefer proud loneliness.
The sizes of the fruits of Luffa prickly are six to ten times smaller (from two to five centimeters long) than those of the above species of the genus, and therefore, apparently, from resentment at such an injustice, they are very bitter, and their surface is covered with a thick layer of bristles, which served another name for the plant is “Bristly luffa”. The internal content of the fruit is fibrous. Of course, the words "about offense" are a joke. The bitter taste and characteristic aroma of the fruit of the plant provide Luffet with a thorny defense against insects and animals.
The chemical composition of the fruit
The bitter taste of Luffa prickly fruits is due to the presence in them of a complex substance called cucurbitacin. In addition to it, the composition of fetal tissues includes such substances that actively act on the human body that help to cope with harmful microbes, various inflammations and malignant tumors, such as saponin, echinatin, β-sitosterol, oleanolic acid and flavonoids.
But, the latest medical practice in India has shown that these substances can turn from helpers to killers if their potential is used without the correct dosage and other factors influencing the course of the disease.
Therefore, doctors in India, where self-medication based on firm belief in the traditional system of medicine, including self-medication using the fruits of Luffa prickly, is very popular, sound the alarm, warning people about the toxicity of the fruits of Luffa prickly, about the dangers of self-medication without specific knowledge.
Healing abilities
Let's list a number of diseases that the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine tries to treat with dried fruits of Luffa prickly. These are chronic bronchitis, dropsy, nephritis, intestinal and bilious colic, fever, jaundice and many others.
Malignant tumors occupy a special place among the diseases that are treated with the help of Luffa prickly. The substance cucurbitacin has been tested in cancers such as pancreatic cancer, melanoma, breast and colon cancer.
Treatment is based on the ability of the fruit, such as anti-inflammatory, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, antipyretic effects on the human body, as a digestive stimulant.
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Prickly capers are among the plants of the family called capers, in Latin the name of this plant will sound like this: Capparis spinosa L. As for the name of the family of spiny capers, in Latin it will be like this: Capparidaceae Juss. Description of prickly capers Spiny capers are a semi-shrub endowed with slightly pubescent creeping branches.
Prickly Carp
Prickly carp (lat.Echinocystis) - an ornamental-leaved plant, which is a representative of the Pumpkin family. Another name is mad cucumber or echinocystis. Description The prickly carp is a herbaceous annual liana with a height of two and a half to four meters.
Luffa Sharp-ribbed, Or Luffa Faceted
Luffa sharp-ribbed (lat.Luffa acutangula), or Luffa faceted (with an emphasis on the first syllable) - an annual liana from the genus Luffa (Latin Luffa), ranked in the Pumpkin family (Latin Cucurbitaceae). The appearance of the plant and its abilities are very similar to a relative with the name of Egyptian Luffa (lat.
Egyptian Luffa, Or Cylindrical Luffa
Luffa Egyptian (lat.Luffa aegyptiaca), or Luffa cylindrical - an annual liana from the genus Luffa (Latin Luffa), belonging to the Pumpkin family (Latin Cucurbitaceae). The young fruits of the plant are a popular vegetable in Southeast Asia, and fully ripe fruits make natural bath sponges.
Luffa Covered, Or Luffa Laxative
Luffa covered (lat.Luffa operculata), or Luffa laxative - American liana from the genus Luffa (Latin Luffa), ranked in the Pumpkin family (Latin Cucurbitaceae). Unlike many species of the genus that settled on the lands of Southeast Asia, Luffa found shelter in Central and South America.
