Loofa (Luffa aegyptiaca)

Luf­fa­schwamm

Name of Drug

Luf­fa aegyp­ti­a­ca, loo­fa, spon­ge cucumber.

Composition of Drug

Loo­fa spon­ge con­sists of the dried fiber struc­tu­re of the ripe cucum­ber-like fruits of Luf­fa aegyp­ti­a­ca Mil­ler [Fam. Cucur-bit­aceae], as well as pre­pa­ra­ti­ons thereof.

Pharmacological Properties, Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology

None known.

Uses

1. Uses as result of evaluation:
   None.
2. Clai­med uses which have been nega­tively evaluated:
   Pre­pa­ra­ti­ons of loo­fah spon­ge are used as a pre­ven­ti­ve for infec­tions or colds, as a reme­dy for colds, nasal catarrhs, as well as sinu­s­i­tis and sup­pur­a­ti­on of the sinus.

The effec­ti­ve­ness for the clai­med appli­ca­ti­ons is not documented.

Risks

None known.

Evaluation

Sin­ce the effec­ti­ve­ness for the clai­med uses is not docu­men­ted, a the­ra­peu­tic appli­ca­ti­on can­not be recommended.