Changes

Dalhana in his commentary identified ''Jimutaka'' with ''Musta'' (Sushruta) but most of the Ayurvedic classics and ''Nighantus'' quoted it for ''Devadali'' or ''Garagari'' or ''Veni''.

Dalhana in his commentary identified ''Jimutaka'' with ''Musta'' (Sushruta) but most of the Ayurvedic classics and ''Nighantus'' quoted it for ''Devadali'' or ''Garagari'' or ''Veni''.

Bhavamishra described two kinds of ''Devadali'', one with white flowers (Luffa echinata), the other with yellow flowers (Luffa graveolens)[7].

Bhavamishra described two kinds of ''Devadali'', one with white flowers (Luffa echinata), the other with yellow flowers (Luffa graveolens)<ref>Prof. K.C. Chunekar, Commentator, Late Dr. G.S. Pandey, editor, Bhavamishra, BhavaprakashNighantu, Revised and enlarged edition 2010, Guduchyadivarga, Chaukhamba BharatiAcadamy, Varanasi, pp 469</ref>.

*Synonyms: ''Devadali,Garagari,Devatadaka''

*Synonyms: ''Devadali,Garagari,Devatadaka''

*Properties:

*Properties:

**Rasa – Katu, Tikta  

**Rasa – ''Katu, Tikta''

**Guna – Laghu, Ruksha

**''Guna'' – ''Laghu, Ruksha''

**Veerya – Ushna  

**''Veerya – Ushna''

**Vipaka - Katu  

**''Vipaka - Katu''

*Pharmacological actions – Tridoshahara, Vamaka

*Pharmacological actions – ''Tridoshahara, Vamaka''

*Indications – Jwara, Shwasa, Kasa, Hikka, Shotha, Kamala, Pandu, Krimi

*Indications – ''Jwara, Shwasa, Kasa, Hikka, Shotha, Kamala, Pandu, Krimi''

*Therapeutic uses –  

*Therapeutic uses –  

**Kamala (Jaundice)-Root of Ankola or Arka or Jimuta pounded with rice water, if used as snuff alleviates jaundice[8].  

**''Kamala'' (Jaundice)-Root of ''Ankola'' or ''Arka'' or ''Jimuta'' pounded with rice water, if used as snuff alleviates jaundice[8].  

**Kushta (skin diseases) – devadali fruit is impregnated with Snuhi latex for seven times and taken in the dose of 125mg with milk keeping on salt-free diet[8]..  

**''Kushta'' (skin diseases) – ''devadali'' fruit is impregnated with ''Snuhi'' latex for seven times and taken in the dose of 125mg with milk keeping on salt-free diet[8].

**Visha(Poison) – Devadali fruit should be taken with curd and the poison is vomited. This is an excellent remedy for all types of rat bite[8]..  

**''Visha''(Poison) – ''Devadali'' fruit should be taken with curd and the poison is vomited. This is an excellent remedy for all types of rat bite[8].

**The fruits are used as a purgative and  also given to patients suffering from colic and cholera.[9]

**The fruits are used as a purgative and  also given to patients suffering from colic and cholera.[9]

*Part used – Fruit, Flowers

*Part used – Fruit, Flowers

**(L)  -  Luffa echinata Roxb.

**(L)  -  Luffa echinata Roxb.

**(F)  - Cucurbitaceae

**(F)  - Cucurbitaceae

**(S)  - Jeemuta, Devadali

**(S)  - ''Jeemuta, Devadali''

**(H) – Bindal, Ghagharbel

**(H) – ''Bindal, Ghagharbel''

Trailing and climbing, herb upto 3m long; tendrils bifid. Leaves alternate, simple; lamina 4.5-6 cm long, slightly broader, reniform-orbicular, in outline, broadly cordate at base, 5 angledor deeply 5- lobed with dentate margins; petioles2.5-4 cm long, puberulous, scabrid. Flowers dioecious and monoecious, male flowers in axillary racemes on 6-15 cm long peduncles, pedicles upto2 cm long, bracteates near the base; calyx tube short with 5 ovate – lanceolate lobes, hairy; corolla of 5 white, ovate spreading petals 1.2- 1.5 cm long; stamens 3, one with 1- celled anther and others two celled, anther cells sigma shaped. Female flowers solitary, axillary on a peduncle of 1.5- 5 cm long, calyx tube produced beyond the ovary, calyx lobes and corolla as in male flowers. Fruit 3-5* 1.5-3 cm in size, ellipsoid, ribless, clothed all over with needle- like out growths of 0.4-0.7 cm long, fibrous within at length, and 3- celled, terminated by a conical brisle-less operculum; seeds many, about 0.5*0.3 cm, slightly verrucose[10].

Trailing and climbing, herb upto 3m long; tendrils bifid. Leaves alternate, simple; lamina 4.5-6 cm long, slightly broader, reniform-orbicular, in outline, broadly cordate at base, 5 angledor deeply 5- lobed with dentate margins; petioles2.5-4 cm long, puberulous, scabrid. Flowers dioecious and monoecious, male flowers in axillary racemes on 6-15 cm long peduncles, pedicles upto2 cm long, bracteates near the base; calyx tube short with 5 ovate – lanceolate lobes, hairy; corolla of 5 white, ovate spreading petals 1.2- 1.5 cm long; stamens 3, one with 1- celled anther and others two celled, anther cells sigma shaped. Female flowers solitary, axillary on a peduncle of 1.5- 5 cm long, calyx tube produced beyond the ovary, calyx lobes and corolla as in male flowers. Fruit 3-5* 1.5-3 cm in size, ellipsoid, ribless, clothed all over with needle- like out growths of 0.4-0.7 cm long, fibrous within at length, and 3- celled, terminated by a conical brisle-less operculum; seeds many, about 0.5*0.3 cm, slightly verrucose[10].

Chemicalconstituents: The fruit contains chrysoeriol and its glycosides as principal flavonoids. Seeds contain cucurbitacin B, triterpenes alcohols, and a saponin with oleanolic acid as sapogenin[10].

 

'''Chemical constituents''': The fruit contains chrysoeriol and its glycosides as principal flavonoids. Seeds contain cucurbitacin B, triterpenes alcohols, and a saponin with oleanolic acid as sapogenin[10].

 

Echinatin, Saponins, Hentriacontane, Gypsogenin , Amariin  Cucurbitacin-B & -E, Sapogenin, -Sitosterol, Echinatol-A & -B, Oleanolic acid, Elaterin-2-O--D-Glucopyranoside, Isocucu&bitacin-B, Elaterin glucoside,Chrysoeriol-7-glucoside, Graviobioside-B, Sitosterol glucoside, Datiscacin, 2-O--D-glucopyranosylcucurbitacin-B & 2-O--D-glucopyranosylcucurbitacin-S.

Echinatin, Saponins, Hentriacontane, Gypsogenin , Amariin  Cucurbitacin-B & -E, Sapogenin, -Sitosterol, Echinatol-A & -B, Oleanolic acid, Elaterin-2-O--D-Glucopyranoside, Isocucu&bitacin-B, Elaterin glucoside,Chrysoeriol-7-glucoside, Graviobioside-B, Sitosterol glucoside, Datiscacin, 2-O--D-glucopyranosylcucurbitacin-B & 2-O--D-glucopyranosylcucurbitacin-S.

Flowering & Fruiting – September - December   

'''Flowering & Fruiting''':  September - December   

 

5) In a study on the therapeutic effect of Luffa echinata fruits in 6 patients of viral hepatitis the result reveals that a single administration of drops squeezed from water soaked dry fruits into the nostrils led to a reduction in bilirubin and SGPT levels significantly within 3 to 7 days and this response was accompanied by a substantial relief in clinical symptoms especially anorexia and malaise.The nasal secretions contained total bilirubin ranging from 1.62 to 5.5mg per cent, the levels not being higher than the serum levels. The observations thus could justify the simple explanation of the relief of jaundice by enhanced nasal excretion of bilirubin. The possibility of the absorption of the active principle of the plant through the nasal mucosa and then action on the liver has been proposed.[16]

#50% ethanolic extract of whole plant (except roots) showed hypoglycaemic action in rats. The LD50 of the extract in mice was found to be 261 mg/kg i.p[14] (Aswal et al., 1984).

#In a study on the therapeutic effect of Luffa echinata fruits in 6 patients of viral hepatitis the result reveals that a single administration of drops squeezed from water soaked dry fruits into the nostrils led to a reduction in bilirubin and SGPT levels significantly within 3 to 7 days and this response was accompanied by a substantial relief in clinical symptoms especially anorexia and malaise.The nasal secretions contained total bilirubin ranging from 1.62 to 5.5mg per cent, the levels not being higher than the serum levels. The observations thus could justify the simple explanation of the relief of jaundice by enhanced nasal excretion of bilirubin. The possibility of the absorption of the active principle of the plant through the nasal mucosa and then action on the liver has been proposed.[16]

Pharmacological activity

Pharmacological activity

Anti-arthritic activity [17]

Anti-arthritic activity [17]