Luffa

LUFFA, Luffa aegyptica Mill (Luffa cylindrica L.), Luffa acutangula var. amara Roxb., Luffa echinata, Luffa operculata Cogn. and other species of L., herbaceous, annual plants, family Cucurbitaceae. They grow and are cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. The roots of L. acutangula are used in tropical America and Asia as a diuretic and laxative; the fruits - as an emetic, and the oil from the seeds - for skin diseases. The fruits of L. operculata in tropical countries, and the fruits of L. aegyptica (cylindrica) in Arabia and Egypt are used as food and diuretics. In the USSR, none of the species of L. have therapeutic applications. Luffa sponge - vegetable sponge. Mature fruits of L. aegyptica (cylindrica) are freed from the outer shell, beaten out, washed and dried. The remaining hard fibrous skeleton of the fruit absorbs cold and hot water well, softening in the process. With soap, it replaces the common sponge when washing the body, especially since it does not undergo decay.