Momordica cymbalaria

Momordica cymbalaria
Momordica cymbalaria
Momordica cymbalaria fruits
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Joliffieae
Subtribe: Thladianthinae
Genus: Momordica
Species: M. cymbalaria
Binomial name
Momordica cymbalaria
Hook.f., 1871
Synonyms

Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.)
Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.)

Momordica cymbalaria (Hook., Fenzl ex Naud.) is a vine of the Momordica genus found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.[1] It is used in the local folk medicine as an abortifacient and for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. It is a relative of the bitter melon plant (M. charantia) which is also used against diabetes. The plant has also been named Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) or Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.)

Pharmacological studies indicate possible action of extracts of the plant on several medical conditions. The water extract was reported to have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rabbits but not in normal rabbits.[2] The ethanol extract was reported to protect rats from isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.[3]


See also

References

  1. ^ Parvathi, S.; Kumar, V. J. F. (2002). "Studies on chemical composition and utilization of the wild edible vegetable athalakkai (Momordica tuberosa)". Plant Foods for Human Nutrition 57 (3/4): 215–222. doi:10.1023/A:1021884406024.  edit
  2. ^ B. K. Rao, M. M. Kesavulu, R. Giri, C. Appa Rao (1999), Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Momordica cymbalaria Hook. fruit powder in alloxan-diabetic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, volume 67, issue 1, pages 103–109., doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00004-5 PubMed
  3. ^ K. Raju, R. Balaraman, Vinoth Hariprasad, M. Kumar, and A. Ali (2008), Cardioprotective Effect Of Momordica Cymbalaria Fenzl In Rats With Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Injury. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, volume 2, issue 1, pages 699–705
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