Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Luffa cylindrica Linn. Leaf and Flower Extracts – An In-Vitro Study.

Luffa cylindrica (LC) linn. belonging to family Cucurbitaceae popularly known as “Raja koshataki”, is an traditionally important plant with more medicinal properties. Phytochemical investigation of ethanolic extracts of the leaves and flowers of Luffa cylindrica Linn resulted in the identification of various chemical constituents such as alkaloids, β – sitosterols and amino acids. The ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers of Luffa cylindrica were also tested against nine human pathogenic bacteria and four fungal strains by the agar-well diffusion and slant method. Based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the present study, maximum antibacterial activity was found in flower extract of Luffa Cylindrica, whereas leaf extract had maximum antifungal activity. This study supports the traditional claim and usefulness of the plant in typhoid, cholera and other gram negative bacterial and staphylococcal infections.