Imperata cylindrica Health Dictionary

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Imperata Cylindrica: From 1 Different Sources

Rausch.

Synonym: I. arundinacea Cyr.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: The hotter parts of India, both in plains and hills, ascending up to 2,300 m in the Himalayas.

English: Thatch Grass.

Ayurvedic: Darbha, Suuchyagra, Yagnika, Yagyabhuushana, Bahir.

Siddha/Tamil: Dharba.

Folk: Daabh.

Action: Diuretic, anti-inflammatory.

The rhizomes contain flavonoids, together with lignans, graminone A and B. A sesquiterpenoid, cylindrene, and biphenylether compounds, cylindol A and B, are also reported.

Cylindrene and graminone B show inhibitory activity on the contractions of vascular smooth muscles and aorta of rabbit respectively; while cylin- dol A exhibits 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.

The hot aqueous extract of the rhizomes show moderate GTP activity on primary cultured rat hepatocytes intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride cy- totoxicity.

The leaves and stem contain cyano- chroic constituents. The roots contain antibacterial substances. The root is used in fevers but does not possess antipyretic activity.

Dosage: Root—50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Luffa Cylindrica

(Linn.) M. J. Roem.

Synonym: L. aegyptiaca Mill. L. pentandra Roxb.

Family: Cucurbitaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated throughout greater parts of India.

English: Smooth Luffa, Sponge- gourd, sponge Cucumber.

Ayurvedic: Dhaamaargava, Ma- haakoshtaki, Mahaajaalini, Raa- jakoshataki.

Siddha/Tamil: Mozhukupeerankai, Pikku.

Action: Plant—used against pharyngitis, rhinitis, mastitis, oedema, swellings and burns. Leaves— used for chronic bronchitis. Leaf juice is given for amenorrhoea. Flowers—used for treating migraine. Seeds—alcoholic extract exhibited 9.80% fungitoxic activity.

German Commission E included Luffa aegyptiaca among unapproved herbs. Preparations of Luffa sponge, used as a preventive for infections or cold, as a remedy for colds, nasal catarrh as well as sinusitis and suppuration of the sinus, have been negatively evaluated.

The saponins isolated from aerial parts are effective in controlling obesity, also the side-effects of steroids.

The oleanane saponins, lucyoside AH (at least one component) is effective in preventing loss of hair.

Spongegourd extracts or saponins (ginsenosides and lucyosides) find application in topical medication for skin disorders and haemorrhoids. Lucyo- sides are also used as antitussive.

The roots of the mature plants contain an acidic pentacyclic triterpene, bryonolic acid. Bryonolic acid showed antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activity in experimental animals. An aqueous extract of seeds showed strong fibrinolytic activity. It also showed anticancer activity in transplanted tumours.

Dosage: Leaf, flower, fruit—10- 20 ml juice. (CCRAS.)... luffa cylindrica

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