Momordica charantia
Cuburbitaceae
Bitter melon, Bitter gourd, or Bitter squash
(1)Ampalaya is a vegetable grown throughout the Philippines. It is mostly cultivated, although wild forms can be found. It grows wild in the remote areas of Mt. Banahaw. This herbaceous-endril bearing vine grows to 5 m. It bears simple, alternate leaves 4–12 cm across, with three to seven deeply separated lobes. It is crawling vine that grows well in tropical countries. (2)The term Ampalaya refers to both the plant and its fruit, which is elongated, green and has a rough and rumpled skin. Known for its bitter taste, the Ampalaya is at once a staple ingredient in Filipino and Asian cuisine and a reliable home remedy for various illnesses, particularly diabetes. The fruit has a distinct warty exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large, flat seeds and pith. The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. (3)At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber chayot or green bell pepper but bitter. The skin is tender and edible. Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits; they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking.As the fruit ripens, the flesh (rind) becomes tougher, more bitter, and too distasteful to eat. On the other hand, the pith becomes sweet and intensely red; it can be eaten uncooked in this state, and is a popular ingredient in some Southeast Asian salads. When the fruit is fully ripe, it turns orange and mushy, and splits into segments which curl back dramatically to expose seeds covered in bright red pulp.
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Active Constituents
- (4)Phytochemical study yielded alkaloids, glycosides, aglycone, tannin, sterol, phenol and protein.
- Leaves and fruit yielded a bitter principle, momordicin.
- A petroleum ether extractive yielded a highly aromatic ethereal oil, a fixed oil, traces of free fatty acids and carotene.
- Ethyl ether fraction yielded chlorophyll, a glucoside-like substance and resin.
- Water soluble extractive yielded a saponin-like substance and mucilaginous bodies.
Traditional Use
(5)The Philippine Department of Health has endorsed Ampalaya Bitter Melon as an alternative herbal medicine for liver problems. Research about Ampalaya has shown that Ampalaya increases the production of beta cells by the pancreas, thereby improving the body’s ability to produce insulin, that controls the blood sugar for diabetics.
(6)Health Benefits of Juice extract from Ampalaya fruit
- Used to treat diabetes
- Used to treat stomach problems such as colitis, dysentery and intestinal parasites
- Used to treat spleen and liver problems
- Used to treat mild cough, heal wounds, and to treat rheumatism and gout.
Health Benefits from Ampalaya leaves
- Powered leaves used as astringent to treat hemorrhoids and piles
- Sap or juice of leaves used to treat skin problems such as eczema, acne, psoriasis.
- Pounded leaves used to treat for burns and scald
- Infusion of leaves used to treat fever
- Infusion used to treat various stomach problems and to improve appetite
- Poultice of leaves used to treat headache
- Infusion of leaves used as mouthwash to treat tooth ache and other mouth problems
Health Benefits from Ampalaya seeds, roots, and flowers
- Decoction of seeds and roots used to treat urethral discharge
- Roots are used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac preparations
- Decoction of roots used to abort pregnancy
- Infusion from bitter melon flower is used to treat asthma
Pharmacological Activity
1.) Ampalaya for Diabetes. (8)
The hypoglycemic chemicals found in Ampalaya Bitter Melon include a mixture of steroidal saponins known as charantins, insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids.
The hypoglycemic effect is more pronounced in the fruit of bitter melon where these chemicals are in greater abundance. The fruit has also shown the ability to enhance cells’ uptake of glucose, to promote insulin release, and potentiate the effect of insulin.
In other in vivo studies, bitter melon fruit and/or seed has been shown to reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides in both the presence and absence of dietary cholesterol.
In one study, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in diabetic rats were returned to normal after 10 weeks of treatment.
2.) Ampalaya for Hemorrhoids.
Powdered leaves and root decoction of Ampalaya are applied to hemorrhoids as astringent.
3.) Ampalaya for Stomach Problems.
Ampalaya leaf juice is used to expel intestinal parasites, treat dysentery, diarrhea, and chronic colitis. Grounded seeds may also be used. Taken in a spoonful three times a day until ailment subsides.
4.) Ampalaya for Cough.(9)
Ampalaya leaf juice is used for mild coughs for children. Administered in a teaspoon three times a day.
5.) Ampalaya for Burns, Scalds and Wounds.
Pounded Ampalaya seeds or leaf are used to treat burns, scalds and wounds.
6.) Ampalaya as Anti-Cancer
7.) Analgesic / Cholinomimetic
A methanol leaf extract study of Mormodica charantia in rodents suggested cholinomimetic and analgesic activities.
8.) Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties
Adaptogenic properties are indicated by the delay in the appearance of cataracts, the secondary complications of diabetes and relief in neurological and other common symptoms even before the hypoglycemia occurred.
9.) Anti-inflammatory / Membrane Stabilizing Property
The study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of an aqueous extract of Mormodica charantia leaves in rats. The results suggest the anti-inflammatory activity may not be related to membrane-stabilization.
10) Antimicrobial (10)
Study on various extracts of Cassia tora, Calendula officinalis and Mormodica charantia showed activity against all tested bacteria, Staph aureus being more susceptible to the aqueous extracts.
11.) Anxiolytic / Antidepressant / Antiinflammatory
Study of methanol extract of dried leaves of MC showed significant anxiolytic activity and antidepressant and antiinflammatory activities.
12) Antidiabetic / Glucose Lowering(13)
A water soluble extract of the fruit significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in diabetic and after force-feeding in rats. Fried karela fruits consumed as daily dietary supplement produced a small but significant improvement in glucose tolerance.
13.) Antioxidant
Study of Momordica charantia fruit extract exerts a protection to AC-induced hyperammonemic rats against oxidative stress possibly through prevention or inhibition of the lipid peroxidative system by its antioxidant, hepatoprotective effect and maintenance of cellular integrity.
14.) Anti-Dengue (12)
Study of evaluated the antiviral effects of six plants on dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1). Results showed the methanol extracts of A. paniculata and M. charantia possess the ability of inhibiting the activity of DENV-1 in in vitro studies.
15.) Antifungal(11)
Study showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida albicans. Phytochemicals identified included steroids, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, and terpenoids.
Toxic Dose with Clinical Bases
- The warty gourd is edible when green but turns toxic when orange ripe. (14)
- The ripe seeds inside the arils and orange flesh of the gourd are toxic and can make one violently lose fluids from both ends, and induce abortions.
- No part, other than the arils, is ever to be eaten when ripe, which is when it is turning from green to yellow to orange. Do not eat the yellow or orange fruit raw or cooked. It is toxic. Also, the green fruit is suspected in the poisoning of dogs and pigs.
- (15)Currently, bitter melon extract is being studied for potential anti-cancer properties. However, the same compounds that relieve illness in some people may cause complications in others they can exacerbate hypoglycemia in diabetics already taking blood sugar-lowering medications, while pregnant women are strongly advised not to consume bitter melon as it may cause bleeding and premature contractions.
References
1. ) Ananya Paul and Sarmistha Sen Raychaudhuri (2010). "Medicinal uses and Molecular Identification of two Momordica charantia varieties" Electronic Journal of Biology
2.) Dr Eduardo Quisumbing (2000). "Medicinal Plants in the Philippines"
3.) T.H. Pardo De Tavera (2000). Plantas Medicinales de Filipinas
4.) Beloin, N.; Gbeassor, M.; Akpagana, K.; Hudson, J.; De Soussa, K.; Koumaglo, K.; Arnason, J. T. (2005). "Ethnomedicinal uses of Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) in Togo and relation to its phytochemistry and biological activity". Journal of Ethnopharmacology
5.) Semiz, A, Sen A. (February 2007). "Antioxidant and chemoprotective properties of Momordica charantia L. (bitter melon) fruit extract". African Journal of Biotechnology
6.) Wang, B. L.; Zhang, W. J.; Zhao, J; Wang, F. J.; Fan, L. Q.; Wu, Y. X.; Hu, Z. B. (2011). "Gene cloning and expression of a novel hypoglycaemic peptide from Momordica charantia". Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
7.) Cassia tora, Momordica charantia and Calendula officinalis (Sep/Oct 2008 ) International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products
8.) Mosquito larvicidal properties of Momordica charantia Linn /) June 2006) R.K. Singh, R.C. Dhiman & P.K. Mittal / J Vect Borne Dis
9.) IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS (2008) Razi Institute for Drug Research
10.) Justin Thenmozhi and P Subramanian (2007) /Oxford Journals Medicine Evidence-based Compl. and Alt. Medicine
11.) Pratibha V Nerurkar, Yun-Kung Lee and Vivek R Nerurkar (2010) BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
12.) Wilai Trakoon-osot, Uthai Sotanaphun, Pariya Phanachet, Supatra Porasuphatana, Umaporn Udomsubpayakul, Surat Komindr /(aUGUST 2103) Journal of Pharmacy Research
13.) R. Rosales, MD and R. Fernando, MD (jULY TO aUGUST 2001) Hypoglycemic Action of Momordica Charantia among type-2 diabetic patients Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine
14.) www.medicalhealthguide.com, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Philippines, Singapore Copyright 2011
15.) http://www.ampalaya.com/index.htm Copyright 2013
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