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Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.

Summary
Ridge gourd is commonly known as Jinga/Kali toroi. It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. The fruits of this plant are cooked as vegetable that has a good amount of fiber, Vitamin B2, Vitamin C, carotene, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron and small amount of iodine and fluorine. It is reported to contain many phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins, luffangulin, sapogenin, oleanolic acid and Cucurbitacin B. Juice of ridge gourd mixed along with other healthy vegetables helps to strengthen the immune system and thus acts as an immunobooster. 1,8-dihydroxy-4-methylanthracene-9,10-dione from ridge gourd downregulates the expression of NF-κB in NCI-H460 cell line.

Mode of Consumption : Boiled and cooked
Plant Details Agro-climatic Zone Vernacular Names Pictures
Scientific Name: Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.
Family: Cucurbitaceae Juss.
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Genus: Luffa Mill.
Fruiting Season: May-August
Parts: Fruit
  • The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Gujarat Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The Western Coastal Region
  • The Maharashtra Plateau Region & The Western Coastal Region
  • The South-Eastern Plateau Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Deccan Interior Region & The Eastern Coastal Region
  • The Upper Ganga Plain Region & The Middle Ganga Plain Region
  • The Lower Ganga Plain Region
 Andhra Pradesh : Beera, Chedu beeha, Varri beera
Bihar : Turai
Gujarat : Gujarati : Turiya, Kadawa, Turiya
Karnataka : Hire-Valli
Kerala : Pichenga, Peerkam Kai
Maharashtra : Dodka Turiya
Punjab : Turiya
Tamil nadu : Pirkankai, Peerkku
Uttar Pradesh : Turai, Satputia
West Bengal : Zinga

Fruits
Compound/Extract Activity Mode of Action Marker/References
1,8-dihydroxy-4-methylanthracene-9,10-dioneAnticancer1,8-dihydroxy-4-methylanthracene-9,10-dione significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, p53, p21, Bax, and caspase-3 but downregulated the expression of NF-κB in NCI-H460 cell line.p53, p21, Bax, caspase-3, and NF-κB[2]
Hydro-alcoholic extractAntioxidantHydro-alcoholic extract reduced toxicity of doxorubicin and restored the reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase in heart and kidney in mice.GSH, CAT, and SOD[3]
BoilingAntioxidantBoiling has been reported to increase in the free radical scavenging activity of Luffa acutangula[4]
Major Class Metabolites (Content of bioactives: mg/100g Fresh Weight)
Carboxylic AcidFerulic acid: 13.04 mg/100 g DW, Gallic acid: 34.98 mg/100 g DW, p-coumaric acid: 68.64 mg/100 g DW, p-hydroxybenzoic acid: , Protocatechuic acid: 30.52 mg/100 g DW[1]
FlavonolCatechin: [1]
Effect Observation DOI
Disease Formulation Reference Author TKDL
Discharge from wound, Malaria/Intermittent fever, Cough/Bronchitis, Dyspnoea, Urinary disorders/Polyuria, Anaemia/Hyperbilirubinaemia, Jaundice, Oedema/Inflammation, Sprue/Malabsorption Syndrome, Immuno suppressive/Emaciating disease, ComplicationJvarakunjaraparindrarasahBrihadrasarajasundaraCompiled and translated by, Dattaram ChaubeAyurveda
Information from Wealth of India Reference
  • The plant have laxative and purgative properties and is reported to be useful in skin diseases and asthma.
  • It is given in splenic enlargements.
  • The dried fruit is powdered and used as snuff in jaundice.
 CSIR(1962).The Wealth of India, Raw materials,Vol.-VI ,P.179 New Delhi, India
4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.1.1, 4.2.1.2, 4.2.1.3, 4.2.2.8
    CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-6, Assam, India
    CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-61,Himachal Pradesh, India