File:Luffa_aegyptica.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Luffa
Sign in to saveAlso known as loofah, loofa
Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the pumpkin, squash and gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).
Luffa is a type of tropical vine that belongs to the same plant family as pumpkins, squashes, and gourds. It matters because luffa plants produce gourds that are commonly dried and used as natural sponges for bathing and cleaning.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Luffa
GENUS
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassMagnoliopsida
- OrderCucurbitales
- FamilyCucurbitaceae
Common Name: sz-kwei
via GBIF · Kew POWO
Research
645 papers- In silico analysis of peroxidase from Luffa acutangula.3 Biotech · 2023Basumatary D, Saikia S, Yadav HS et al.DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03432-8
- Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of white towel gourd (Luffa cylindrica).ReviewGenomics · 2024Gong Y, Luo X, Zhang T et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110859
- Mapping metabolome changes in Luffa aegyptiaca Mill fruits at different maturation stages via MS-based metabolomics and chemometrics.ReviewJournal of advanced research · 2021Maamoun AA, El-Akkad RH, Farag MADOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.009
- Analyzing genetic diversity in luffa and developing a Fusarium wilt-susceptible linked SNP marker through a single plant genome-wide association (sp-GWAS) study.BMC plant biology · 2024Li YD, Liu YC, Jiang YX et al.DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05022-7
- Loofa (Luffa cylindrica) sponge: review of development of the biomatrix as a tool for biotechnological applications.ReviewBiotechnology progress · 2013Saeed A, Iqbal MDOI: 10.1002/btpr.1702
- Pharmacology, toxicology and homeopathy of Luffa operculata (L.) Cogniaux (Cucurbitaceae): Integrative review.ReviewToxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology · 2025Pereira-de-Morais L, Batista PR, Alencar Silva A et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108286
- Luffa cylindrica (Sponge Gourd) Fibers in Treatment of Greywater: an Aerobic Fixed-Film Reactor Approach.Applied biochemistry and biotechnology · 2024Arora U, Khuntia HK, Chanakya HN et al.DOI: 10.1007/s12010-023-04804-3
- The complete mitochondrial genome of Luffa acutangula.Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources · 2020Ruang-Areerate P, Shearman J, Kongkachana W et al.DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2020.1810165
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
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- Luffa aegyptica.jpg
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Sources (2)
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~15 min read
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Names
- Uses
- Fibers
- Food
- Indian subcontinent
- Other Asian cuisines
- Western cuisines
- Other uses
- Role in food chain
- Mechanical properties
- Fiber-bundles
- Bulk-sponge
- Dynamic loading
- Gallery
- References
- External links
Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the pumpkin, squash and gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).
In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah or less frequently loofa, usually refers to the fruits of the species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. It is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable, but must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. The vegetable is popular in India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam. When the fruit fully ripens, it becomes too fibrous for eating. The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge. In October 2025, the world record for the heaviest luffa was broken at the NC State Fair. The luffa, grown in Graham, NC weighed 11 lb 3.3 oz (5.08 kg).