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

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