Changes

**(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<ref>Prof K Nishteswar & Dr.KoppulaHemadri, Dravyaguna Vidyana, first edition 2010, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan, Delhi, pp 422</ref>.

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<ref name="ref10">Prof K Nishteswar & Dr.KoppulaHemadri, Dravyaguna Vidyana, first edition 2010, Chaukhamba Sanskrit Pratisthan, Delhi, pp 422</ref>.

'''Distribution''': In India Luffa echinata is found in Diu (Goa state), Gujarat and Rajastan states. The plant is also distributed in Pakistan and Tropical Africa[11].

'''Distribution''': In India Luffa echinata is found in Diu (Goa state), Gujarat and Rajastan states. The plant is also distributed in Pakistan and Tropical Africa[11].

'''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].

'''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<ref name = "ref10" />.

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.