Luffa echinata (bitter sponge) is a medicinal plant that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. Cucurbitaeae family plants are known to be an important food and medicine and in regard to the latter have been evidenced to possess antiulcer, antidiabetic, analgesic, nephro-protective and anticancer effects in humans and animals. Studies show that bitter sponge has excellent free radical scavenging abilities, and this may explain some of its important health effects. Bitter sponge may also possess effects on carbohydrate digestion, and studies show that extract of leaves and fruits can inhibit α-amylase (83.33 %) and α-glycosidase (77.42 %) enzymes, indivcstive of an anti-diabetic effect. Acetylcholinesterase is also inhibited by extracts of bitter sponge suggesting a central nervous system effect. Bitter sponge can also inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Therefore studies show that bitter sponge may possess antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and central nervous system effects.
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