Momordica charantia or Bitter Melon, also known as balsam pear or Karela, is a Tropical vegetable, is a common food in Indian cusine and has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. Momordica charantia or Bitter Melon, also known as balsam pear or Karela, is a Tropical vegetable, is a common food in Indian cusine and has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes.
The fruit is considered as tonic, stomachic, stimulant,emetic, antibilous, laxative and alterative. The fruit is useful in gout, rheumatism and subacute cases of the spleen and liver diseases. It is supposed to purify blood and dissipate melancholia and gross humours. It has also been shown to have hypoglycaemic properties (antidiabetic) in animal as well as human studies. The fruit juice and/or a leaf tea is employed for diabetes, malaria, colic, sores and wounds, infections, worms and parasites, as an emmenogogue, and for measles, hepatitis, and fevers. Fruit pulp, leaf juice and seeds are antihelimintic.Leaves act as galactogogue. Root is astringent. The ripe fruit of bitter melon has been shown to exhibit some remarkable anticancer effects, especially leukemia. It purifies the blood. Bitter Melon and Bitter Melon Extracts inhibit cancer and tumor. Fruit is useful in sub acute cases of liver and spleen. Fruit and leaves are used in leprosy.
Thus this book may be used as a very important reference book for students, Scientists and workers associated with this plant for future findings. |
