Luffa echinata Roxb.-A review on its ethanomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological perspective

Luffa echinata Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) is a spreading climbing herb of tremendous medicinal importance, distributed throughout Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Northern Tropical Africa. Traditionally various parts of the plant are being used for the treatment of different ailments such as jaundice, intestinal colic, enlargement of liver and spleen, leprosy, diabetes, bronchitis, nephritis, rheumatism, cirrhosis, dropsy, anthelmintic, stomach ache, snake bite, dog bite, fever, diarrohea and hemorrhoid disorder. The plant also possesses antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anxiolytic, antiepileptic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, antiulcer and anticancer activity. Research has been carried out using different techniques to support most of these claims. This review is an attempt to compile an up-to-date data on its ethanomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological perspective.