Luffa or ridge gourd is an elongated, cylindrical fruit pod in the cucurbitaceae/gourd family of vegetables. Its young, tender and mild flavored pods indeed are one of the very popular vegetables featuring in the Indian, Chinese and Filipinos cuisine.

Luffa is a fast-growing, climbing vine that often requires some support to facilitate its spread. It grows well in sandy, fertile soils and requires good sunlight and humid conditions to flourish. Large, lobed leaves are deep green with fine hairs on their surface. Yellow, female-flowers appear which develop into elongated, straight, or slightly curved pods. The pods, when at edible pod stage immature, measure about 10-18 cm in length

The two most common species of luffa are-

• Ridge gourd (L. acutangula) is the most common cultivated variety. Its surface is covered with ridges that run along its length.
• Smooth luffa (L. cylindirca) is larger and more cylindrical, with a slightly thicker base. Its skin is smooth like that of cucumber.

The interior of immature fruits in both varieties features smooth yet crunchy flesh and tiny soft seeds. If left to grow further, it quickly increases in size and develops a network of fibers tissue and seeds that become hard and inedible.

Other Name(s):

Angled Loofah, Courge Éponge, Courge Torchon, Dishcloth Sponge, Éponge Loofa, Éponge Végétale, Laine Torchon des Antilles, Liane Torchon, Loofa, Loofah, Lufa, Luffa acutangula, Luffa aegyptiaca, Luffa cylindrical, Luffa operculata, Luffaschwamm, Papangaye, Sigualuo, Sponge Cucumber, Vegetable Sponge, Water Gourd.

Angled Loofah also known as Luffa acutangula belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae is commonly known as ridge gourd is used as a vegetable in Asian countries. It is a pantropical climbing herb that is cultivated throughout India and grown in all types of soil and in naturalized tropics and subtropics and grown in summer or in the rainy season. It is propagated by seeds and sown either in February-March or June-July.

It is indigenous to the old world tropic probably India and naturalized throughout South and south-east Asia and cultivated elsewhere in the tropics and subtropics. It grows best in areas with maximum temperature ranging from 30–35°C and a minimum of 20°C. It thrives well in full sun and well-drained sandy loam soils with pH 6.5–7.5 and rich in organic matter. It is found in lowlands upto 500 meters elevation. It is fairly drought tolerant but cold and frost sensitive. Like luffa, loofah and tori, this veggie is considered to be originated from Arabic desserts and spread through the entire world. This dark green veggie has white pulp and white seeds embedded inside in the spongy flesh. All varieties are delicious and should be ingested before they mature otherwise they are too woodsy and fibrous to consume.

Facts about Angled Loofah

Plant description

Angled Loofah is a vigorous climbing, monoecious, coarse, and annual herb with branched, 3 fid tendrils and slender pentagonal, furrowed, densely hairy, and green stem. The stem is brownish-yellow, five angled, glabrous and 0.2-0.4 cm thick. Leaves are 25 cm long borne on short, subterete, and longitudinally grooved petioles. Lamina is broad ovate in outline, scabrous, and shallowly five to seven lobed. Flowers are axillary, yellow, 4-5 cm across. Male flowers form in long peduncled raceme, 15 to 20 flowered, 3 stamens within campanulate. Fruit is ellipsoid, fusiform or clavate, narrowed at base and rounded at the apex, thinly hairy, 10 ribbed, densely punctate, grayish-green, and 30 cm or more long. Seeds are broad ellipsoid and 1–1.2 cm by 0.7–0.8 cm. Roots are yellowish-brown and almost cylindrical.

Leaf

Petiole is 3-8 cm long, brownish yellow, somewhat twisted, angular and wrinkled. Lamina is pale or light green, crumpled, broad and 6-9 cm long.

Root

Roots are cylindrical, yellowish-brown, 8- 12 cm in length, and 0.7 cm in thickness. It is rough because of longitudinal wrinkles.

Stem

Stem is brownish-yellow in color, 0.2-0.4 cm thick, 5 angled, glabrous, and consists of tendrils.

Flower

The male flower is light greenish-yellow occurring in small racemes having pubescent calyx and lanceolate lobes.

Fruits

Fruits are obovate, pale yellowish-brown about 4-10 cm long, and 2-4 cm broad.

Nutrition Facts

Health Benefits of Angled Loofah

1. Weight loss

Angled Loofah has a low content of saturated fat and cholesterol. High water content makes it food with low calories. It is used to treat jaundice and a very good natural remedy for jaundice. Powdered dried fruits are used for treating jaundice.

2. Skin health

The matured and dried Angled Loofah has a sponge that is used as an exfoliating product while bathing. It helps to eliminate dead cells from the skin and makes the skin smooth and conditioned. Angled Loofah has blood purifying properties which is helpful for pimples and acne problems. It is effective for combating foot and body odor.

3. Lowers inflammation

Ridge gourd seeds are used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances. Studies have shown the antioxidant capabilities of seed extract confirming antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract. It has a high presence of flavonoids and phenolic acid in seed extract. The seed extract provides relief from pain caused due to inflammatory disorders.

4. Antimicrobial activity

It has long been used in Ayurveda medicine in India as a treatment for various conditions including fungal, viral and bacterial infections. Some studies have shown that the fruit and plant have potential use for their antimicrobial properties. Fruit powder of the ridge gourd was macerated with methanol and ethyl acetate and antibacterial activities were observed in both the methanol extract and the ethyl acetate extract. Both extracts had an inhibiting effect on different types of bacteria including E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

5. Purifies blood

Add Angled Loofah to the diet and it effectively cleanses blood for pollutants. It boosts liver health and decreases the side effects of alcohol intoxication.

6. Laxative properties

Angled Loofah alleviates constipation problems and is used to cure piles.

7. Cure jaundice

Angled Loofah has medicinal properties that help to heal jaundice.

8. Helpful for diabetes

Angled Loofah has particular qualities which is helpful for diabetics. The presence of insulin-like peptides helps to lower sugar levels in both bloods along urine. It restricts blood insulin level to a reasonable quantity.

Traditional uses

• Hay fever. Early research suggests that using a homeopathic nasal spray (Luffa comp.-Heel Nasal Spray) containing luffa and other ingredients for 6 weeks might help control seasonal allergy symptoms.
• Swelling (inflammation) of the nasal cavity and sinuses (rhinosinusitis). Early research suggests that taking a specific homeopathic product (Sinusitis PMD) containing luffa and other ingredients for about 2 weeks might help relieve symptoms of sinusitis.
• Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis). Early research suggests that using a specific homeopathic nasal spray (Luffa comp.-Heel Nasal Spray by Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH) containing luffa, Galphimia glauca, histamine, and sulfur four times daily for 42 days helps control seasonal allergy symptoms. The effects appear to be similar to the effects of a nasal spray containing the drug cromolyn sodium.
• Nasal swelling (sinusitis). Early research suggests that taking a specific homeopathic product (Sinusitis PMD tablets by Bionorica) containing luffa, lung moss, and potassium dichromate for about 2 weeks helps relieve symptoms of sinusitis.
• Treating and preventing colds.
• Sinus problems.
• Pain.
• Menstrual problems.
• Promoting breast-milk production.
• Removing dead skin, when the intact luffa “sponge” is rubbed against the skin.
• Stimulating the skin, when the intact luffa “sponge” is rubbed against the skin.
• Shingles infection in the face and eye area, when charcoal made from luffa is applied directly to the affected area.
• In folkloric medicine, fruit juice is used to be aperient, diuretic, and demulcent.
• Juice is used for jaundice.
• Leaf decoction is used for uremia and amenorrhoea in Java.
• Use the leaves juice as an eye drop for conjunctivitis and apply it externally for sores, itch and various animal bites.
• Use the poultice leaves for an enlarged spleen, leprosy, and hemorrhoids in India and Bangladesh.
• Use the seed oil for dermatitis.
• In Maharashtra, the fruits powder is used as snuff to prevent jaundice.
• Apply the juice of roasted young fruit to cure headaches.
• To eliminate kidney stones, add the roots of Angled Loofah to milk or water.
• Use the leaves juice as dressing in piles, ringworms, spleen inflammation and leprosy.

Ayurvedic remedies

For jaundice: Mix 1 cup of Angled Loofah juice with 2 spoons of sugar. Take it twice daily as cure jaundice.

For bleeding from wound: Apply the grounded fruit pulp on the wound to stop bleeding from the wounds.

For stomach worms: Boil 1 Angled Loofah in two glasses of water and then add salt to it. Take this mixture twice daily to kill stomach worms.

For asthma: Grind Angled Loofah to extract ½ cup Angled Loofah juice mixed with sugar. Take it twice a day to cure cancer.

Culinary uses

• In China, India, West Africa and Southeast Asia, young leaves and fruits are used as vegetables.
• Immature fruit is steamed, stirfried and grated into omelette or fritter or added to soups.
• Cut it into slices and fry it in batter.

SIDE EFFECTS

Luffa is LIKELY SAFE for most people when applied directly to the skin as a sponge. However, the safety of using luffa charcoal for shingles is unknown. Luffa is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in food amounts. But there isn’t enough information to know if luffa is safe when taken as medicine. The possible side effects of luffa are unknown.

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Luffa is POSSIBLY SAFE for pregnant and breastfeeding women in food amounts. But larger medicinal amounts should be avoided until more is known.

DOSING

The appropriate dose of luffa depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for luffa. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

References

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