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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 60
| Issue : 1 | Page : 72-74 |
Luffa echinata: Healer plant or potential killer?
S Giri, CR Lokesh, S Sahu, N Gupta
Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India
Correspondence Address:
N Gupta
Department of Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.128819
Bristly luffa (Luffa echinata), a member of the cucurbitaceae family is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant, which has been used in the traditional system of medicine for variety of symptoms. The active constituents like cucurbitacin, saponin, echinatin, β-Sitosterol, oleanolic acid and flavonoids have important pathophysiological effects on human body. However, there is no earlier published report of any toxicity on humans. We report a case of a 50-year-old gentleman, who presented with gastrointestinal bleeding, deranged liver function and shock following consumption of dried fruits of Luffa echinata soaked overnight in water. He had antral gastritis and duodenal erosions on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and was managed conservatively and recovered completely.
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