Luffa cylindrica (scientific name? (L.) Roem.) Annual climbing vines of Cucurbitaceae; Stems and branches are rough, ribbed and puberulent. Tendrils slightly stout, pubescent, usually 2-4-pronged. Petiole rough, subglabrous; Leaf blade triangular or suborbicular, usually palmately 5-7-lobed, lobes triangular, dark green above, rough, warty, light green below, pubescent, palmately veined, with white pubescence.

Luffa contains protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin b 1 and vitamin C, as well as saponins, plant mucus, xylose gum, luffa bitter, citrulline and so on. Every100g contains protein1.4-1.5g, fat 0. 1 g, carbohydrate 4.3-4.5g, crude fiber 0.3-0.5g, ash 0.5g and calcium18g. Ascorbic acid 5-8mg.

Compendium of Materia Medica: "Loofah, unknown before the Tang and Song Dynasties, is found in both the north and the south today, thinking it is a regular vegetable. Peel when tender, cook and expose, and order tea to fill vegetables. Old age is as big as a pestle, and the tendons are woven like new buttons. After frost, it is dry and the kettle is washed, so the villagers call it washing pots and melons. There is a partition inside, and the child is in the partition. It looks like a wilting child, black and flat. Its flower buds and tender leaf tendrils can be eaten. "

Extended data:

Edible efficacy

1, moisturizing and whitening: it protects skin, eliminates plaque and prevents skin aging, which is a rare beauty product for delicate skin. The sap of loofah vine and stem has the special function of keeping skin elastic. It can beautify and wrinkle, so loofah is called "beauty water".

2. Brain strengthening: it is beneficial to the brain development of children and the brain health of middle-aged and elderly people, and the extract of Luffa has obvious preventive effect on Japanese encephalitis virus.

3, promoting blood circulation and dredging collaterals: it has the effect of relieving cough and resolving phlegm, cooling blood and detoxifying. External use can stop bleeding and diminish inflammation, and it is helpful for women to eat more to regulate menstruation.

4, detoxification and detumescence: Luffa rattan tastes bitter and cool, has the effect of dredging tendons and activating collaterals, relieving cough and relieving phlegm. Luffa sponge tastes sweet and flat, and has the functions of clearing away heat and toxic materials, diuresis and detumescence.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-loofah