Changes

'''Family''': Cucurbitaceae

'''Family''': Cucurbitaceae

'''Sanskrit synonym''': jalini, rajimatphala, ridangaphala. [4]

'''Sanskrit synonym''': jalini, rajimatphala, ridangaphala.<ref>Dravyaguna- Vigyana, Vol.II, written by Prof. P.V. Sharma, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi, Reprint 1998, 383.</ref>

'''English name''': Ribbed luffa, Ridged gourd.

'''English name''': Ribbed luffa, Ridged gourd.

'''Botanical Description''':

'''Botanical Description''':

Leaves smaller, at first whitish and softly villous, at length scabrid. Flowers smaller. Fruit obovoid, obtusely conical at both ends, 5-10 cm. long, by about 2.5-3.8 cm thick, 10- ribbed, bitter. Seeds smaller.  The plant is slightly pungent, acrid, bitter; laxative; carminative digestible, a tonic to the intestines. [5] 

Leaves smaller, at first whitish and softly villous, at length scabrid. Flowers smaller. Fruit obovoid, obtusely conical at both ends, 5-10 cm. long, by about 2.5-3.8 cm thick, 10- ribbed, bitter. Seeds smaller.  The plant is slightly pungent, acrid, bitter; laxative; carminative digestible, a tonic to the intestines.<ref>Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol.II by Kirtikar and Basu, second edition 1998, pp1123-1124.</ref>

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Fig.  Luffa acutangula plant with fruit and flower.

Fig.  Luffa acutangula plant with fruit and flower.

'''Distribution''': It is found all over India. [6]

'''Distribution''': It is found all over India. <ref>Ibidem Dravyaguna Vigyana Vol.II,(4) 383.</ref>

*Rasa: Tikta

*Rasa: Tikta

*Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna

*Guna: Laghu, Ruksha, Tikshna

*Veerya: Ushna

*Veerya: Ushna

*Vipaka: Katu (Ati Katu) [7]

*Vipaka: Katu (Ati Katu)  

*Prabhav: Ubhaytobhagahara. [8]

*Prabhav: Ubhaytobhagahara.<ref>Ibidem Dravyaguna Vigyana Vol.II,(4) 383</ref>

'''Uses''' :

'''Uses''' :

''Kritavedhana'' is ''vamaka'' (emetic) and  ''virechaka'' (purgative), ''mutravirechaka'' (diuretic), ''vrana shodhaka'' (wound purifier) and ''vishaghna'' (anti-poisonous). In small amount it increases ''kshudha'' (appetite), removes ''vibandha'' (constipation). In high dose it is ''vamaka'' and ''virechaka''. ''Jalodara'' (ascites) occurring due to hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, tincture (1:20) of its all five parts are used. The fruit destroys bad taste in mouth; ''Jwara'' (fever), ''shirashoola'' (headache). Fruit is violently ''vamaka'' (emetic). The entire plant is said to possess laxative and purgative properties and is also said to be useful in ''twaka vikara'' (skin diseases) and ''shwasa'' (asthma). It is said to be an antidote for snake poisoning. Cures ''vata, kapha, pandu'' (anemia), ''yakrata vikara'' (liver complaints), ''shwitra'' (leucoderma), ''arsha'' (piles), ''jalodara'' (ascites), ''kamala'' (jaundice). [9]

''Kritavedhana'' is ''vamaka'' (emetic) and  ''virechaka'' (purgative), ''mutravirechaka'' (diuretic), ''vrana shodhaka'' (wound purifier) and ''vishaghna'' (anti-poisonous). In small amount it increases ''kshudha'' (appetite), removes ''vibandha'' (constipation). In high dose it is ''vamaka'' and ''virechaka''. ''Jalodara'' (ascites) occurring due to hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, tincture (1:20) of its all five parts are used. The fruit destroys bad taste in mouth; ''Jwara'' (fever), ''shirashoola'' (headache). Fruit is violently ''vamaka'' (emetic). The entire plant is said to possess laxative and purgative properties and is also said to be useful in ''twaka vikara'' (skin diseases) and ''shwasa'' (asthma). It is said to be an antidote for snake poisoning. Cures ''vata, kapha, pandu'' (anemia), ''yakrata vikara'' (liver complaints), ''shwitra'' (leucoderma), ''arsha'' (piles), ''jalodara'' (ascites), ''kamala'' (jaundice). <ref>Bhavamishra,Bhava Prakash Nighantu In: Prof. K.C. Chunekar, editor, ? ed. Varanasi:Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2013, 672.</ref>

'''Chemical constituent''': In seeds oil is found.

'''Chemical constituent''': In seeds oil is found.