Momordica cymbalaria
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Momordica cymbalaria fruits.jpg
| image_caption = Momordica cymbalaria fruits
| genus = Momordica
| species = cymbalaria
| authority = Hook.f., 1871
| synonyms = Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.)
Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.)
}}
Momordica cymbalaria is a vine of the genus Momordica found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.{{Cite journal | last1 = Parvathi | first1 = S. | last2 = Kumar | first2 = V. J. F. | doi = 10.1023/A:1021884406024 | title = Studies on chemical composition and utilization of the wild edible vegetable athalakkai (Momordica tuberosa) | journal = Plant Foods for Human Nutrition | volume = 57 | issue = 3/4 | pages = 215–222 | year = 2002 | pmid = 12602930| bibcode = 2002PFHN...57..215P | s2cid = 42850600 }} It is a relative of the bitter melon plant (M. charantia). The plant has also been named Luffa tuberosa (Roxb.) or Momordica tuberosa (Roxb.)
Research
{{more medical citations needed|section|date=April 2019}}
Pharmacological studies have examined possible action of extracts of the plant in animal models of disease. The water extract was reported to have hypoglycemic activity in diabetic rabbits but not in normal rabbits.{{Cite journal
| last1 = Rao | first1 = B. K.
| last2 = Kesavulu | first2 = M. M.
| last3 = Giri | first3 = R.
| last4 = Appa Rao | first4 = C.
| title = Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of Momordica cymbalaria Hook. Fruit powder in alloxan-diabetic rats
| journal = Journal of Ethnopharmacology
| volume = 67
| issue = 1
| pages = 103–109
| year = 1999
| doi = 10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00004-5
| pmid = 10616966
}} The ethanol extract was reported to protect rats from isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.{{Cite journal|author1=K. Raju |author2=R. Balaraman |author3=Vinoth Hariprasad |author4=M. Kumar |author5=A. Ali |name-list-style=amp |year=2008|url=http://www.jcdr.net/article_fulltext.asp?issn=0973-709x&year=2008&month=February&volume=2&issue=1&page=699&id=188 |title=Cardioprotective Effect Of Momordica Cymbalaria Fenzl In Rats With Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Injury|journal= Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research| volume= 2|issue =1| pages =699–705}}
See also
- Momordica charantia or bitter melon, a widely grown edible relative.
- Momordica balsamina or balsam apple.
- Momordica foetida an African relative.
- Momordica cochinchinensis or scarlet eggplant, a Vietnamese relative.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3534996}}
Category:Flora of India (region)
Category:Plants described in 1871
{{Cucurbitales-stub}}