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 Scientific Name : Momordica Charantia
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Common Name : Bitter melon, Usta (Beng.), Papailla, Bittergourd, Balsam apple, Balsam pear, Karela, K'u kua kurela, Kor-kuey, Ku gua, Pava-aki, Salsamino, Sorci, Sorossi, Sorossie, Sorossies, Pare, Peria laut, Peria, Wild Cucumber (Eng.)
Part Used : Whole plant, Fruit, Seed
Habit and Distribution : A creeping or climbing weak annual herb with deeply lobed leaves, yellow epigynous flowers, ovate or oblong-ovate, tuberculed fruits.
Chemical constituents : Glycosides: momordin, charantin; Alkaloids: momordicin, polypeptide-P, charine, cryptoxanthin, cucurbitins, cucurbitacins, oxalic acid, pentadecans, peptides, petroselinic acid, cycloartenols; Oils (seed only): stearic, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lauric acid, elaeostearic acids; Glycoproteins: alpha-momorcharin, beta-momorcharin, lectins, vicine (pyrimidine nucleoside), protein MAP30; Vitamin A, B1, B2, C and Iron. Uses : Over the years scientists have verified many of the traditional uses of this bitter plant that continues to be an important natural remedy in herbal medicine systems . They have turned their focus on the beneficial properties of the fruit, leaves and seed in diabetes and conditions related to diabetes, viruses( as well as HIV and certain cancers.), colds and flu, and tumors, high cholesterol, and psoriasis. |
Herbal Medicine 