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| BITTER MELON |
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Momordica
Species: charantia
Common names: Bitter Melon, Sorosi, A'Jayib Al Maasi, Assorossie, Balsam Apple,
Balsampear, Chin Li Chih, Ejinrin Gule Khandan, K'U Kua Kurela, Lai P'U
T'Ao, Melao De Sao Caetano, Nd, Salsamino, Sorci, Sorossi, Sorossie,
Sorossies, Pare, Peria laut, Peria, Periok
Part Used: Plant, Fruit, Seed |
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| DESCRIPTION |
Properties/Actions: |
Anti-biotic, Anti-mutagenic, Anti-oxidant, Anti-leukemic,
Anti-viral, Anti-diabetic, Anti-tumor, Aperitive, Aphrodisiac,
Astringent, Carminative, Cytotoxic, Depurative, Hypotensive,
Hypoglycemic, Immunomodulatory, Insecticidal, Lactagogue, Laxative,
Purgative, Refrigerant, Stomachic, Styptic, Tonic,
Vermifuge |
Phytochemicals: |
5-Alpha-Stigmasta-7,25-dien-3-betalOL, 5-hydroxytryptamine,
Alkaloids, Alpha-Elaeostearic-acid Ascorbigen,
Beta-sitosterol-d-glucoside, Charantin, Citrulline, Cryptoxanthin,
Elasterol, Flavochrome, Fluoride, Gaba, Galacturonic-acid,
Lanosterol, Lutein, Lycopene, Momordicin, Momordicoside-F-1,
Momordicoside-F-2, Momordicoside-G, Momordicoside-I, Mutachrome,
Oxalate, Oxalic-acid, Pipecolic-acid, Polypeptide-p, Rubixanthin,
Stigmasta-5,25-dien-3-beta-ol, Sugars, Zeaxanthin,
Zeinoxanthin |
Traditional Remedy: |
One-half cup leaf decoction 1-2 times daily or 1-3 ml of a 4:1
tincture twice daily. 1 to 2 grams of powdered leaf in tablets or
capsules daily can be substituted if desired. See Traditional Herbal Remedies
Preparation Methods page if necessary for definitions. |
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| ETHNOBOTANY: WORLDWIDE
USES |
Elsewhere |
Abdomen, Abortifacient, Ache(Ear), Ache(Head),
Asthma,Anti-biotic, Boil, Burn, Astringent, Bilious, Bladder,
Cancer, Carminative, Colic , Dysmenorrhea, Colic, Colitis, Cough,
Catarrh, Chilblain, Dysentery, Depurative, Diabetes, mellitis,
hypertension, canicide, Emetic, Eruption , Eye(Veterinary), Fever,
Gout, Halitosis, Hepatitis, Hyperglycemia, Itch, Jaundice, Kidney,
Lactogogue, Laxative, Leprosy, Malignancy, Night-Blindness, Pile,
Poison, Psoriasis, Purgative, Malaria, Refrigerant, Rheumatism,
Roundworms, Skin, Soap, Sore, Splenitis, Stomachic, Stone, Styptic,
Thrush, Tonic, Urethritis, Vermifuge, Wound |
China |
Aphrodisiac, Cancer(Breast), Halitosis, Refrigerant |
Kurdistan |
Dyspepsia, Jaundice, Liver , Refrigerant, Spleen,
Vermifuge |
Ghana |
Aphrodisiac, Dysentery, Fever, Gonorrhea |
Haiti |
Dermatosis, Laxative, Skin, Renitis |
India |
Bite(Snake), Diabetes Mellitis, Eczema, Hyperglycemia |
Mexico |
Aphrodisiac, Burn, Purgative, Scabies, Sore, Vermifuge |
Malaya |
Abdomen, Asthma, Burn, Dermatosis, Diarrhea, Headache, Scald,
Sprue, Stomachache, Vermifuge, |
Panama |
Cold, Emmenagogueue, Insecticide, Fever |
South America |
Malaria, Medicine, Malignancy, Tumor, Vermifuge |
Trinidad |
Diabetes, Dysentery, Fever, Hypertension, Malaria, Rheumatism,
Vermifuge |
US |
Cold, Canicide, Fatality |
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Quoted References |
10 Momordica charantia L. Cucurbitaceae.
"Papailla", "Balsam pear". Fruit edible cooked. Plant decoction used for
colic, and worms; infusion of fruit and flowers used for hepatitis. Seed
pulp mixed with lard as a suppurative (SOU). Considered vermicide,
stomachic, emmenagogue, and very effective in the expulsion of
Trichocephalos. Fruit decoction used as febrifuge and emetic (PEA). Leaf
decoction used by the "Cuna" for measles (RVM), by Brazilians for fever,
itch, and sores (BDS). Seeds and pericarp contain saponin glycosides
which produce elaterin and alkaloids, which causes vomiting and diarrhea
(LAE). Leaf infusion a common folk remedy for diabetes around Iquitos
(AYA). TRAMIL cites it as relatively POISONOUS (TRA). On the patent for
Compound Q for AIDS, as a source of momocharin. Also contains rosmarinic
acid, with anti-viral activity and calceolarioside and
verbascoside."
"Local Names: Kalara (Oriya)
Description
of the Plant: Climber. Flower colour yellow. Flowers in July /
August. Fruits in September / October. Frequently occurs in plains,
rarely occur in hilly area.
Plant Parts Used: Leaf / Root /
Fruit. |
Healthcare Properties: |
1. Piles: Pound the 5g leaves
of Momordica charantia and extract the juice. Take the juice twice daily
for 3 days with sugar candy water (S-6) [OR-2-2-1290]
2. Abdominal
discomfort (Griping, wind dropsy): Grind all the following into a paste:
the roots of Momordica charantia seeds of Piper nigrum and dried ginger.
Take the paste once daily for one day only to cure griping. (M-2)
[OR-2-1-1127] (or) Grind together the leaves of Momordica charantia
(3no) and the seeds of Piper nigrum (3no) for a single dose into a
paste. Take the paste twice daily for two days (J-6) [OR-4-2-110]
3.
Fever: Grind the following into a paste: the roots of Momordica
charantia, roots of Cissampelos pareira, seeds of Piper nigrum (7no).
Mix the paste in a glass of water and prepare a drink. Take the drink
once daily till cure. (M-2) [OR-2-1-1127]
4. Diabetes: Grind the
leaves of Momordica charantia and extract the juice after filtration.
Take the juice once early morning before brushing for 15 days (H-7)
[OR-3-2-149]
5. Warm infection: Grind the leaves of Momordica
charantia and extract the juice after filteration. Take the juice once
daily for one day only with honey or little sugar (H-7)
6. Jaundice:
Grind the leaves of Momordica charantia with the seeds of Piper nigrum
(7no) into a paste. Mix the paste with thick curd and stir well. Take
the mixture orally twice daily for five to six days. (A-4)
7. Skin
diseases (scabies): Apply the leaf juice over the scabies area once
daily after washing that area with warm water. (P-12)" |
Clinical References |
- Dhar P, et al. Nutritional characteristics of oil containing
conjugated octadecatrienoic fatty acid. Ann Nutr Metab. 1998;42(5):290-6.
- Zambenedetti P, et al. Histochemical localization of
glycoconjugates on microglial cells in Alzheimer's disease brain
samples by using Abrus precatorius, Maackia amurensis, Momordica
charantia, and Sambucus nigra lectins. Exp Neurol. 1998
Sep;153(1):167-71.
- Padma P, et al. Fluorescence quenching and time-resolved
fluorescence studies on Momordica charantia(bitter gourd) seed lectin. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1998 Aug;45(5):911-22
- Ahmed I, et al. Effects of Momordica charantia fruit juice on
islet morphology in the pancreas of the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998 Jun;40(3):145-51.
- Naseem MZ, et al. Anti-spermatogenic and androgenic activities of
Momordica charantia (Karela) in albino rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998 May;61(1):9-16.
- Kusamran WR, et al. Effects of neem flowers, Thai and Chinese
bitter gourd fruits and sweet basil leaves on hepatic monooxygenases
and glutathione S-transferase activities, and in vitro metabolic
activation of chemical carcinogens in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 1998 Jun;36(6):475-84.
- Minami Y, et al. Chemical modifications of momordin-a and
luffin-a, ribosome-inactivating proteins from the seeds of Momordica
charantia and Luffa cylindrica: involvement of His140, Tyr165, and
Lys231 in the protein-synthesis inhibitory activity. Biosci
Biotechnol Biochem. 1998 May;62(5):959-64.
- Lans C, et al. Observations on ethnoveterinary medicines in
Trinidad and Tobago. Prev Vet Med. 1998 May 1;35(2):125-42.
- Raimo G, et al. The effect of ribosome-inactivating proteins on
the ribosome from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus
solfataricus. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1998 Apr;44(4):665-72.
- Bolognesi A, et al.Evaluation of immunotoxins containing
single-chain ribosome-inactivating proteins and an anti-CD22
monoclonal anti-body (OM124): in vitro and in vivo studies. Br J
Haematol. 1998 Apr;101(1):179-88.
- Lee DK, et al. Momordins inhibit both AP-1 function and cell
proliferation. Anti-cancer Res. 1998 Jan-Feb;18(1A):119-24.
- Singh A, et al. Momordica charantia (Bitter Gourd) peel, pulp,
seed and whole fruit extract inhibits mouse skin papillomagenesis. Toxicol Lett. 1998 Jan 16;94(1):37-46.
- Singh A, et al.Postnatal efficacy of Momordica charantia peel,
pulp, seed and whole fruit extract in the detoxication pathway of
suckling neonates and lactating mice. Cancer Lett. 1998 Jan
9;122(1-2):121-6.
- Matsuda H, et al. Studies on kochiae fructus. IV. Anti-allergic
effects of 70% ethanol extract and its component, momordin Ic from
dried fruits of Kochia scoparia L. Biol Pharm Bull. 1997
Nov;20(11):1165-70.
- Matsuda H, et al., Inhibitory mechanisms of oleanolic acid
3-O-monodesmosides on glucose absorption in rats. Biol Pharm
Bull. 1997 Jun;20(6):717-9.
- Platel K, 1997Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus:
vegetables as potential hypoglycaemic agents. Nahrung 41(2), 68-74
(1997)
- Kubo M, 1997 Studies on Kochiae Fructus. I. Anti-pruritogenic
effect of 70% ethanol extract from kochiae fructus and its active
component. Yakugaku Zasshi 117(4), 193-201 (1997)
- Neumann GM, 1996 Purification and sequencing of napin-like protein
small and large chains from Momordica charantia and Ricinus communis
seeds and determination of sites phosphorylated by plant
Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase. Biochim Biophys Acta 1298(2), 223-240
(1996)
- Pu Z, 1996 Characterization of the enzymatic mechanism of
gamma-momorcharin, a novel ribosome-inactivating protein with lower
molecular weight of 11,500 purified from the seeds of bitter gourd
(Momordica charantia). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 229(1), 287-294
(1996)
- Raza H, 1996 Effect of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) fruit
juice on the hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases and
glutathione S-transferases in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Biochem Pharmacol 52(10), 1639-1642 (1996)
- Bolognesi A, 1996 Induction of apoptosis by ribosome-inactivating
proteins and related immunotoxins. Int J Cancer 68(3), 349-355 (1996)
- Ueno HM, 1996 Effect of Momordica charantia L. in mice infected
with Plasmodium berghei Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 29(5), 455-460 (1996)
- Ramos Ruiz A, 1996 Screening of medicinal plants for induction of
somatic segregation activity in Aspergillus nidulans. J Ethnopharmacol
52(3), 123-127 (1996)
- Platel K, et al. Effect of dietary intake of freeze dried bitter
gourd (Momordica charantia) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
(Nahrung, 1995)
- Lee-Huang S, et al. Inhibition of the integrase of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 by anti-HIV plant proteins MAP30
and GAP31. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1995 Sep 12
- Hamato N, et al. Trypsin and elastase inhibitors from bitter gourd
(Momordica charantia LINN.) seeds: purification, amino acid sequences,
and inhibitory activities of four new inhibitors. (J Biochem (Tokyo),
1995 Feb
- Arai K, et al. Three-dimensional structure of gurmarin, a sweet
taste-suppressing polypeptide. J Biomol NMR, 1995 Apr
- Miura S, et al. Isolation and amino acid sequences of two trypsin
inhibitors from the seeds of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia).
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1995 Mar
- Minami Y, et al. The complete amino acid sequence of momordin-a, a
ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of bitter gourd
(Momordica charantia). Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 1993 Jul
- Kimura Y, et al. Primary structures of N-linked oligosaccharides
of momordin-a, a ribosome-inactivating protein from Momordica
charantia seeds. Agric Biol Chem, 1991 Aug
- Porro G, et al. Different cytotoxic activity and intracellular
fate of an anti-CD5-momordin immunotoxin in normal compared to tumour
cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1995 Apr
- Bourinbaiar AS, et al. Potentiation of anti-HIV activity of
anti-inflammatory drugs, dexamethasone and indomethacin, by MAP30, the
anti-viral agent from bitter melon. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1995
Mar 17
- Hayashi K, et al. Inhibition of serine proteases of the blood
coagulation system by squash family protease inhibitors. J Biochem
(Tokyo), 1994 Nov
- Tennekoon KH, et al. Effect of Momordica charantia on key hepatic
enzymes. J Ethnopharmacol, 1994 Oct
- Cakici I, et al. Hypoglycaemic effect of Momordica charantia
extracts in normoglycaemic or cyproheptadine-induced hyperglycaemic
mice. J Ethnopharmacol, 1994
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