1- Introduction tpo the Species Momordica charantia L . - Bitter gourd or Bitter melon
1.1- Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Momordiceae H. Schaef. & S.S. Renner
Genus: Momordica L.
Species: Momordica charantia L
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Momordiceae H. Schaef. & S.S. Renner
Genus: Momordica L.
Species: Momordica charantia L
1.2- Species Momordica charantia L. - Bitter gourd or Bitter melon
+ Overview
Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the Genus Momordica of the Tribe Momordiceae, of the Subfamily family Cucurbitaceae of the Order Cucurbitales. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. It is sometimes known by names loaned from Asian languages.
Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It is widely used in East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian cuisine.
+ Alternative Names
Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. kǔguā from Chinese, nigauri from Japanese, gōyā from Okinawan...
Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee.
In the Philippines it is called ampalaya or amargoso. In Indonesia it is called paria, peria, or (most commonly) pare. And in the Republic of Suriname it is called "sopropo".
+ Overview
Momordica charantia, known as bitter melon, bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the Genus Momordica of the Tribe Momordiceae, of the Subfamily family Cucurbitaceae of the Order Cucurbitales. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. It is sometimes known by names loaned from Asian languages.
Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It is widely used in East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian cuisine.
+ Alternative Names
Bitter melon also has names in other languages which have entered English as loanwords, e.g. kǔguā from Chinese, nigauri from Japanese, gōyā from Okinawan...
Those from the Caribbean island of Jamaica commonly refer to the plant as cerasee.
In the Philippines it is called ampalaya or amargoso. In Indonesia it is called paria, peria, or (most commonly) pare. And in the Republic of Suriname it is called "sopropo".
2- Characteristics of the Species Momordica charantia L. - Bitter Gourd or Bitter Melon
2.1- Description
+ The plant
Momordica charantia is an annual to perennial monoecious climbing or sprawling herb, 2-3 m tall. It may be either hairless or slightly hairy. This herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine grows up to 5 m (16 ft) in length.
The well branched, slender, green stems are usually slightly 5-angled or ridged, and carry unbranched tendrils in the leaf axils.
There is a central taproot, from the apex of which the stems spread to climb over any available support.
+ The leaves
The leaves are carried singly along the stems on 3-5 cm long stalks, and each leaf is 4-10 cm long, rounded in outline, and deeply 5-9 lobed. The foliage has an unpleasant smell when crushed.
+ The flowers
Each plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. The flowers occur singly in the upper leaf axils on 2-10 cm long stalks with a small leaf-like bract towards the base.
Male flowers have a slender basal swelling which is continuous with the base of the sepal tube, which ends in five blunt sepals. There are five oval yellow petals 10-20 cm long, and five central stamens.
Female flowers are similar to the male flowers but have a distinct warty swelling well below the base of the sepal tube and three stigmas. Male flowers appear first and usually exceed the number of female flowers by about 20:1. The flower opens at sunrise and remains open for only one day.
In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November.
+ The fruits
The pendulous cylindrical fruits are egg-shaped and 2-10 cm long (up to 20 cm in cultivated varieties), and covered with longitudinal ridges and warts. At maturity, they turn orange to yellow, and the tips split into three and turn back to reveal the yellow pulp and the bright red arils that enclose the seeds which adhere to the inside of the fruit.
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 seeds
Each of the flattened woody seeds is 5-9 mm long, and has finely pitted surfaces.
Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits; they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking.
The seedlings show epigeal germination, and resemble cucumber seedlings. The thick, brittle hypocotyl is 2-3 cm long, the cotyledons thick, firm, convex on the lower surface and almost without veins, the epicotyl 1-2 cm long and the first leaves shortly stalked, rounded, bluntly lobed and finely toothed.
+ The plant
Momordica charantia is an annual to perennial monoecious climbing or sprawling herb, 2-3 m tall. It may be either hairless or slightly hairy. This herbaceous, tendril-bearing vine grows up to 5 m (16 ft) in length.
The well branched, slender, green stems are usually slightly 5-angled or ridged, and carry unbranched tendrils in the leaf axils.
There is a central taproot, from the apex of which the stems spread to climb over any available support.
+ The leaves
The leaves are carried singly along the stems on 3-5 cm long stalks, and each leaf is 4-10 cm long, rounded in outline, and deeply 5-9 lobed. The foliage has an unpleasant smell when crushed.
+ The flowers
Each plant bears separate yellow male and female flowers. The flowers occur singly in the upper leaf axils on 2-10 cm long stalks with a small leaf-like bract towards the base.
Male flowers have a slender basal swelling which is continuous with the base of the sepal tube, which ends in five blunt sepals. There are five oval yellow petals 10-20 cm long, and five central stamens.
Female flowers are similar to the male flowers but have a distinct warty swelling well below the base of the sepal tube and three stigmas. Male flowers appear first and usually exceed the number of female flowers by about 20:1. The flower opens at sunrise and remains open for only one day.
In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs during June to July and fruiting during September to November.
+ The fruits
The pendulous cylindrical fruits are egg-shaped and 2-10 cm long (up to 20 cm in cultivated varieties), and covered with longitudinal ridges and warts. At maturity, they turn orange to yellow, and the tips split into three and turn back to reveal the yellow pulp and the bright red arils that enclose the seeds which adhere to the inside of the fruit.
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 seeds
Each of the flattened woody seeds is 5-9 mm long, and has finely pitted surfaces.
Seeds and pith appear white in unripe fruits; they are not intensely bitter and can be removed before cooking.
The seedlings show epigeal germination, and resemble cucumber seedlings. The thick, brittle hypocotyl is 2-3 cm long, the cotyledons thick, firm, convex on the lower surface and almost without veins, the epicotyl 1-2 cm long and the first leaves shortly stalked, rounded, bluntly lobed and finely toothed.
2.2- Origin and Distribution
+ Origin:
Momordica charantia is native to the Old World and was possibly domesticated in India and southern China.
+ Distribution:
It is now found naturalized in almost all tropical and subtropical regions. It is an important market vegetable in southern and eastern Asia, and wild and cultivated populations can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, southern China and tropical Africa (PROTA, 2014).
It is believed that Momordica charantia was introduced into America from West Africa with the slave trade. In the West Indies, Momordica charantia was first recorded in Puerto Rico in 1885 (US National Herbarium). By the end of nineteenth century, local cultivars originally from Asia were recorded on small scale cultivations in tropical America and the southern part of the United States (PROTA, 2014).
+ Origin:
Momordica charantia is native to the Old World and was possibly domesticated in India and southern China.
+ Distribution:
It is now found naturalized in almost all tropical and subtropical regions. It is an important market vegetable in southern and eastern Asia, and wild and cultivated populations can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, southern China and tropical Africa (PROTA, 2014).
It is believed that Momordica charantia was introduced into America from West Africa with the slave trade. In the West Indies, Momordica charantia was first recorded in Puerto Rico in 1885 (US National Herbarium). By the end of nineteenth century, local cultivars originally from Asia were recorded on small scale cultivations in tropical America and the southern part of the United States (PROTA, 2014).
2.5- Health benefits of Bitter Melon
+ Introduction
Have you ever heard of Momordica charantia? Or wait, what about karela? Now don’t get scared. These are just a couple of other names for bitter gourd, which is also known as bitter melon or bitter squash in English. The first thing that comes to my mind seeing it is the bitterness in the name. They are dark or light green in color depending on the region where they are grown. Though they taste very bitter, they are filled with many beneficial antioxidants and essential vitamins (1).
Bitter melon, also known as ‘Karela’ in Hindi, ‘Kakarakaya‘ in Telugu, ‘Pavakkai‘ in Tamil, ‘Pavakka‘ in Malayalam, ‘Hagalkai‘ in Kannada, ‘Karela‘ in Gujarati, ‘Karle‘ in Marathi, and ‘Korola‘ in Bengali can be consumed in various ways like drinking its juice, pickle or using it in recipes.
+ Introduction
Have you ever heard of Momordica charantia? Or wait, what about karela? Now don’t get scared. These are just a couple of other names for bitter gourd, which is also known as bitter melon or bitter squash in English. The first thing that comes to my mind seeing it is the bitterness in the name. They are dark or light green in color depending on the region where they are grown. Though they taste very bitter, they are filled with many beneficial antioxidants and essential vitamins (1).
Bitter melon, also known as ‘Karela’ in Hindi, ‘Kakarakaya‘ in Telugu, ‘Pavakkai‘ in Tamil, ‘Pavakka‘ in Malayalam, ‘Hagalkai‘ in Kannada, ‘Karela‘ in Gujarati, ‘Karle‘ in Marathi, and ‘Korola‘ in Bengali can be consumed in various ways like drinking its juice, pickle or using it in recipes.
+ The 24 Health Benefits Of Bitter Gourd:
Let us quickly look at some of the most-well known health benefits of Bitter Melon:
1- Respiratory Disorders
The fresh pods are an excellent remedy for curing respiratory problems like asthma, cold, cough, etc. Also, the paste of bitter melon leaves, along with the paste of tulsi leaves, when taken with honey in the morning, is a good remedy.
2. Liver Tonic
Drink one glass of bitter melon juice daily to heal liver problems. Keep consuming this continuously for a week to see results.
3. Immune System
Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against infections. This also helps to build your immunity.
4. Acne
Consuming bitter melon can help you get rid of acne, blemishes and deep skin infections. Bitter melon is useful in treating blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ringworm and other fungal diseases. The free radicals in it are also useful for anti-ageing. Consume the juice of a bitter melon mixed with lemon on an empty stomach daily for 6 months or till you get the desired results.
5. Diabetes
Bitter melon juice benefits include helping to overcome type 2 diabetes. It has been a part of the Chinese and Indian ancient medicine for a long time but only recent research has proven that it is no folk lore. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability of a cell to absorb the sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due to development of resistance to insulin. In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced.
The absorption of sugar occurs due to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in the cells. Bitter gourd activates these kinases due to which the absorption of sugar increases and hence, aids in bringing diabetes under control. Green juice for diabetics: cucumbers, green apples, bitter melon, celery, ½ green capsicum (bell pepper). Bitter melon contains certain chemicals that are like insulin which help to reduce the blood sugar levels.
6. Constipation
Bitter melon helps in easy digestion as it contains fiber properties. The food is digested and the waste is thrown out of the body which helps in curing indigestion and constipation problems.
7. Kidney And Bladder
Bitter melon helps to maintain a healthy liver and bladder. It is also useful in curing kidney stones.
8. Heart Disease
Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. It helps reduce the bad cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduces the chances of heart attacks. Also, it is known to lower the blood sugar levels that help in maintaining a good heart health.
Let us quickly look at some of the most-well known health benefits of Bitter Melon:
1- Respiratory Disorders
The fresh pods are an excellent remedy for curing respiratory problems like asthma, cold, cough, etc. Also, the paste of bitter melon leaves, along with the paste of tulsi leaves, when taken with honey in the morning, is a good remedy.
2. Liver Tonic
Drink one glass of bitter melon juice daily to heal liver problems. Keep consuming this continuously for a week to see results.
3. Immune System
Boil bitter melon leaves or fruits in water and consume it every day to fight against infections. This also helps to build your immunity.
4. Acne
Consuming bitter melon can help you get rid of acne, blemishes and deep skin infections. Bitter melon is useful in treating blood disorders like blood boils, scabies, itching, psoriasis, ringworm and other fungal diseases. The free radicals in it are also useful for anti-ageing. Consume the juice of a bitter melon mixed with lemon on an empty stomach daily for 6 months or till you get the desired results.
5. Diabetes
Bitter melon juice benefits include helping to overcome type 2 diabetes. It has been a part of the Chinese and Indian ancient medicine for a long time but only recent research has proven that it is no folk lore. Type 2 diabetes is caused partially due to the inability of a cell to absorb the sugar in the blood due to insufficient insulin or due to development of resistance to insulin. In both cases, the cells are unable to absorb the sugar due to the ineffectiveness of the insulin produced.
The absorption of sugar occurs due to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in the cells. Bitter gourd activates these kinases due to which the absorption of sugar increases and hence, aids in bringing diabetes under control. Green juice for diabetics: cucumbers, green apples, bitter melon, celery, ½ green capsicum (bell pepper). Bitter melon contains certain chemicals that are like insulin which help to reduce the blood sugar levels.
6. Constipation
Bitter melon helps in easy digestion as it contains fiber properties. The food is digested and the waste is thrown out of the body which helps in curing indigestion and constipation problems.
7. Kidney And Bladder
Bitter melon helps to maintain a healthy liver and bladder. It is also useful in curing kidney stones.
8. Heart Disease
Bitter melon is very good for the heart in many ways. It helps reduce the bad cholesterol levels which clog the arterial walls and thereby reduces the chances of heart attacks. Also, it is known to lower the blood sugar levels that help in maintaining a good heart health.
9. Cancer
Bitter melon can prevent cancer cells from multiplying.
10. Weight Loss
Bitter melon contains antioxidants that help to flush out your system. This improves your metabolism and digestive systems, thus helping you lose weight quickly. The two other major factors that aid in weight loss are the calorie control and filling components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are low in calories that allows you to consume more quantities of them. The filling component in this vegetable is water. We know that water is a universal suppressant of hunger. The pods of this vegetable contain on the whole 80-85% water.
11. Energizes Naturally
Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice improves stamina and energy levels of the individual and improves sleeping patterns.
12. Purifies Blood
The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of bitter gourd juice help to treat skin problems, blood disorders, clear toxins from the blood and purify it, and further improves blood circulation throughout the body. It helps to cure issues like itching caused by toxaemia, rashes, acne, psoriasis, blood boils and even inhibits the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
Skin Benefits Of Bitter Gourd/ Bitter Melon
The appearance of your skin is largely determined by what you put inside your body. In other words, getting proper nutrition is a prerequisite for a healthy and damage-free skin. Being a natural blood purifier, bitter gourd helps in improving the appearance of your skin. It provides the following benefits to your skin:
13. Prevents Skin Problems
The regular consumption of bitter gourd helps in keeping your skin glowing and free from blemishes. It also helps prevent acne thanks to its blood purifying properties.
14. Skin Infections
Bitter melon benefits in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and psoriasis. The regular consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in improving psoriasis as well as other fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.
15. Anti-Aging
Bitter gourd contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant (14). By fighting and eliminating the harmful free radicals, it helps to prevent wrinkles by slowing down the aging process. It also protects the skin from damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
16. Healing Qualities
Bitter gourd helps in controlling the blood flow and clotting, causing wounds to heal faster, preventing further infections.
Bitter melon can prevent cancer cells from multiplying.
10. Weight Loss
Bitter melon contains antioxidants that help to flush out your system. This improves your metabolism and digestive systems, thus helping you lose weight quickly. The two other major factors that aid in weight loss are the calorie control and filling components. Calorie control happens as such because vegetables are low in calories that allows you to consume more quantities of them. The filling component in this vegetable is water. We know that water is a universal suppressant of hunger. The pods of this vegetable contain on the whole 80-85% water.
11. Energizes Naturally
Regular consumption of bitter gourd juice improves stamina and energy levels of the individual and improves sleeping patterns.
12. Purifies Blood
The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of bitter gourd juice help to treat skin problems, blood disorders, clear toxins from the blood and purify it, and further improves blood circulation throughout the body. It helps to cure issues like itching caused by toxaemia, rashes, acne, psoriasis, blood boils and even inhibits the growth of cancerous cells in the body.
Skin Benefits Of Bitter Gourd/ Bitter Melon
The appearance of your skin is largely determined by what you put inside your body. In other words, getting proper nutrition is a prerequisite for a healthy and damage-free skin. Being a natural blood purifier, bitter gourd helps in improving the appearance of your skin. It provides the following benefits to your skin:
13. Prevents Skin Problems
The regular consumption of bitter gourd helps in keeping your skin glowing and free from blemishes. It also helps prevent acne thanks to its blood purifying properties.
14. Skin Infections
Bitter melon benefits in treating skin diseases or skin infections, eczema and psoriasis. The regular consumption of bitter gourd juice helps in improving psoriasis as well as other fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot.
15. Anti-Aging
Bitter gourd contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant (14). By fighting and eliminating the harmful free radicals, it helps to prevent wrinkles by slowing down the aging process. It also protects the skin from damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
16. Healing Qualities
Bitter gourd helps in controlling the blood flow and clotting, causing wounds to heal faster, preventing further infections.
Hair Benefits Of Bitter Melon
Bitter gourd is a great home remedy for your hair. Besides being beneficial for your skin and health, bitter gourd juice is also effective in treating hair problems and promoting longevity. It is beneficial for your hair in the following ways:
17. Shiny Hair
To impart a natural shine to your hair, you can mix a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice with yoghurt and apply on your hair. Wash off after sometime. This will make your hair shiny and beautiful.
18. Dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem and is mostly caused due to the consumption of unhealthy food and exposure to pollution. To ward off dandruff, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice and cumin seeds. Regular usage of this pack will rid you of dandruff within a month.
19. Split Ends
If you are troubled by split ends, you can apply raw bitter gourd juice to your split ends and then comb gently. This should be done twice a week to get rid of split ends.
20. Dry And Itchy Scalp
To combat the dryness of the scalp, you can rub a fresh piece of bitter gourd on it and massage your scalp in a circular motion. Then, rinse off with clear water. To combat the itchiness, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice with either avocado or banana and apply it on your scalp. This should be used at least once a week to get rid of an itchy scalp.
21. Hair Loss
Bitter gourd juice helps in reducing hair fall naturally. All you need to do is mix bitter gourd juice with a dash of sugar and use this paste on your hair to get good results.
22. Rough And Tangled Hair
If you have rough and tangled hair, you can pour a cup of bitter gourd juice and allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hair. This will help smoothen your hair texture and make it soft and shiny.
23. Grey Hair
Bitter gourd can also treat premature graying of hair. You can apply freshly squeezed bitter gourd juice on your Grey strands. Doing this once in every ten days will reduce the Grey hair growth.
24. Oily Hair
Increased intake of oily food can cause the accumulation of excess oil in your hair. If you have oily hair, you should first limit the consumption of oily food. You can apply a mixture of bitter gourd juice and apple cider vinegar to remove the excess oil from your hair.
Source: 24 Best Health Benefits Of Bitter Gourd (Bitter Melon) - StyleCraze
Bitter gourd is a great home remedy for your hair. Besides being beneficial for your skin and health, bitter gourd juice is also effective in treating hair problems and promoting longevity. It is beneficial for your hair in the following ways:
17. Shiny Hair
To impart a natural shine to your hair, you can mix a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice with yoghurt and apply on your hair. Wash off after sometime. This will make your hair shiny and beautiful.
18. Dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem and is mostly caused due to the consumption of unhealthy food and exposure to pollution. To ward off dandruff, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice and cumin seeds. Regular usage of this pack will rid you of dandruff within a month.
19. Split Ends
If you are troubled by split ends, you can apply raw bitter gourd juice to your split ends and then comb gently. This should be done twice a week to get rid of split ends.
20. Dry And Itchy Scalp
To combat the dryness of the scalp, you can rub a fresh piece of bitter gourd on it and massage your scalp in a circular motion. Then, rinse off with clear water. To combat the itchiness, you can prepare a hair pack by mixing bitter gourd juice with either avocado or banana and apply it on your scalp. This should be used at least once a week to get rid of an itchy scalp.
21. Hair Loss
Bitter gourd juice helps in reducing hair fall naturally. All you need to do is mix bitter gourd juice with a dash of sugar and use this paste on your hair to get good results.
22. Rough And Tangled Hair
If you have rough and tangled hair, you can pour a cup of bitter gourd juice and allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse off your hair. This will help smoothen your hair texture and make it soft and shiny.
23. Grey Hair
Bitter gourd can also treat premature graying of hair. You can apply freshly squeezed bitter gourd juice on your Grey strands. Doing this once in every ten days will reduce the Grey hair growth.
24. Oily Hair
Increased intake of oily food can cause the accumulation of excess oil in your hair. If you have oily hair, you should first limit the consumption of oily food. You can apply a mixture of bitter gourd juice and apple cider vinegar to remove the excess oil from your hair.
Source: 24 Best Health Benefits Of Bitter Gourd (Bitter Melon) - StyleCraze
3- The Uses of Bitter melon
3.1- Food Uses
Bitter melon is generally consumed cooked in the green or early yellowing stage. The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens.
The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible. 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.
In Chinese cuisine, bitter melon (Chinese: 苦瓜, pinyin: kǔguā or kugua) is valued for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries (often with pork and douchi), soups, dim sum, and herbal teas (See Gohyah tea). It has also been used in place of hops as the bittering ingredient in some beers in China and Okinawa.
Bitter melon is very popular throughout India. In North Indian cuisine, it is often served with yogurt on the side to offset the bitterness, used in curry such as sabzi or stuffed with spices and then cooked in oil.
Bitter melon is generally consumed cooked in the green or early yellowing stage. The young shoots and leaves of the bitter melon may also be eaten as greens.
The fruit is most often eaten green, or as it is beginning to turn yellow. At this stage, the fruit's flesh is crunchy and watery in texture, similar to cucumber, chayote or green bell pepper, but bitter. The skin is tender and edible. 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.
In Chinese cuisine, bitter melon (Chinese: 苦瓜, pinyin: kǔguā or kugua) is valued for its bitter flavor, typically in stir-fries (often with pork and douchi), soups, dim sum, and herbal teas (See Gohyah tea). It has also been used in place of hops as the bittering ingredient in some beers in China and Okinawa.
Bitter melon is very popular throughout India. In North Indian cuisine, it is often served with yogurt on the side to offset the bitterness, used in curry such as sabzi or stuffed with spices and then cooked in oil.
In South Indian cuisine, it is used in the dishes thoran/thuvaran (mixed with grated coconut), mezhukkupuratti (stir fried with spices), theeyal (cooked with roasted coconut) and pachadi (which is considered a medicinal food for diabetics). Other popular recipes include preparations with curry, deep fried with peanuts or other ground nuts, and Pachi Pulusu, a soup with fried onions and other spices. In Karnataka, which is known as Hāgalakāyi in Kannada language similarly in Tamil Nadu, it is known as paagarkaai or pavakai in Tamil a special preparation called pagarkai pitla, a kind of sour koottu, variety is very popular. Also popular is kattu pagarkkai, a curry that involves stuffing with onions, cooked lentil and grated coconut mix, tied with thread and fried in oil. In the Konkan region of Maharashtra, salt is added to finely chopped bitter gourd, known as karle in Marathi, and then it is squeezed, removing its bitter juice to some extent. After frying this with different spices, the less bitter and crispy preparation is served with grated coconut. It's known as Karate in Goa, it's valued for its health benefits and used widely in Goan cuisine.
In northern India and Nepal, bitter melon, known as tite karela in Nepali, is prepared as a fresh pickle. For this, the vegetable is cut into cubes or slices, and sautéed with oil and a sprinkle of water. When it is softened and reduced, it is crushed in a mortar with a few cloves of garlic, salt and a red or green pepper. It is also eaten sautéed to golden-brown, stuffed, or as a curry on its own or with potatoes.
In Sri Lanka, it is known as karavila in Sinhala and is an ingredient in many different curry dishes (e.g., Karawila Curry and Karawila Sambol) which are served mainly with rice in a main meal. Sometimes large grated coconut pieces are added, which is more common in rural areas. Karawila juice is also sometimes served there.
In Pakistan, known as karela in Urdu-speaking areas, and Bangladesh, known as korola in Bengali, bitter melon is often cooked with onions, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, coriander powder, and a pinch of cumin seeds. Another dish in Pakistan calls for whole, unpeeled bitter melon to be boiled and then stuffed with cooked minced beef, served with either hot tandoori bread, naan, chappati, or with khichri (a mixture of lentils and rice).
Bitter melon, known as gōyā in Okinawan, and nigauri in Japanese (although the Okinawan word gōyā is also used), is a significant ingredient in Okinawan cuisine, and is increasingly used in Japanese cuisine beyond that island. It is popularly credited with Okinawan life expectancies being higher than the already long Japanese ones.
In Indonesian cuisine, bitter melon, known as pare in Javanese and Indonesian (also paria), is prepared in various dishes, such as gado-gado, and also stir fried, cooked in coconut milk, or steamed. In Christian areas in Eastern Indonesia it is cooked with pork and chile, the sweetness of the pork balancing against the bitterness of the vegetable.
In northern India and Nepal, bitter melon, known as tite karela in Nepali, is prepared as a fresh pickle. For this, the vegetable is cut into cubes or slices, and sautéed with oil and a sprinkle of water. When it is softened and reduced, it is crushed in a mortar with a few cloves of garlic, salt and a red or green pepper. It is also eaten sautéed to golden-brown, stuffed, or as a curry on its own or with potatoes.
In Sri Lanka, it is known as karavila in Sinhala and is an ingredient in many different curry dishes (e.g., Karawila Curry and Karawila Sambol) which are served mainly with rice in a main meal. Sometimes large grated coconut pieces are added, which is more common in rural areas. Karawila juice is also sometimes served there.
In Pakistan, known as karela in Urdu-speaking areas, and Bangladesh, known as korola in Bengali, bitter melon is often cooked with onions, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, coriander powder, and a pinch of cumin seeds. Another dish in Pakistan calls for whole, unpeeled bitter melon to be boiled and then stuffed with cooked minced beef, served with either hot tandoori bread, naan, chappati, or with khichri (a mixture of lentils and rice).
Bitter melon, known as gōyā in Okinawan, and nigauri in Japanese (although the Okinawan word gōyā is also used), is a significant ingredient in Okinawan cuisine, and is increasingly used in Japanese cuisine beyond that island. It is popularly credited with Okinawan life expectancies being higher than the already long Japanese ones.
In Indonesian cuisine, bitter melon, known as pare in Javanese and Indonesian (also paria), is prepared in various dishes, such as gado-gado, and also stir fried, cooked in coconut milk, or steamed. In Christian areas in Eastern Indonesia it is cooked with pork and chile, the sweetness of the pork balancing against the bitterness of the vegetable.
In Vietnamese cuisine, raw bitter melon slices known as mướp đắng or khổ qua in Vietnamese, eaten with dried meat floss and bitter melon soup with shrimp are popular dishes. Bitter melons stuffed with ground pork are served as a popular summer soup in the south. It is also used as the main ingredient of "stewed bitter melon". This dish is usually cooked for the Tết holiday, where its "bitter" name is taken as a reminder of the bitter living conditions experienced in the past.
In Thai cuisine, the Chinese variety of green bitter melon, mara (มะระ) in Thai, is prepared stuffed with minced pork and garlic, in a clear broth. It is also served sliced, stir fried with garlic and fish sauce until just tender.
In the cuisine of the Philippines, bitter melon, known as ampalaya in Tagalog, and parya in Ilokano, may be stir-fried with ground beef and oyster sauce, or with eggs and diced tomato. The dish pinakbet, popular in the Ilocos region of Luzon, consists mainly of bitter melons, eggplant, okra, string beans, tomatoes, lima beans, and other various regional vegetables all stewed together with a little bagoong-based stock.
In Trinidad and Tobago, bitter melons, known as caraille or carilley, are usually sautéed with onion, garlic and scotch bonnet pepper until almost crisp.
In Thai cuisine, the Chinese variety of green bitter melon, mara (มะระ) in Thai, is prepared stuffed with minced pork and garlic, in a clear broth. It is also served sliced, stir fried with garlic and fish sauce until just tender.
In the cuisine of the Philippines, bitter melon, known as ampalaya in Tagalog, and parya in Ilokano, may be stir-fried with ground beef and oyster sauce, or with eggs and diced tomato. The dish pinakbet, popular in the Ilocos region of Luzon, consists mainly of bitter melons, eggplant, okra, string beans, tomatoes, lima beans, and other various regional vegetables all stewed together with a little bagoong-based stock.
In Trinidad and Tobago, bitter melons, known as caraille or carilley, are usually sautéed with onion, garlic and scotch bonnet pepper until almost crisp.
3.2- Medicinal Uses
+ Traditional medicinal uses
They have been in use for a very long time in Hindu medicine or Ayurveda. Bitter melon has been used in various Asian and African herbal medicine systems for a long time. In Turkey, it has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly stomach complaints. In traditional medicine of India, different parts of the plant are used as claimed treatments for diabetes (particularly Polypeptide-p, an insulin analogue), and as a stomachic, laxative, antibilious, emetic, anthelmintic agent, for the treatment of cough, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, wounds, ulcer, gout, and rheumatism.
+ Traditional medicinal uses
They have been in use for a very long time in Hindu medicine or Ayurveda. Bitter melon has been used in various Asian and African herbal medicine systems for a long time. In Turkey, it has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly stomach complaints. In traditional medicine of India, different parts of the plant are used as claimed treatments for diabetes (particularly Polypeptide-p, an insulin analogue), and as a stomachic, laxative, antibilious, emetic, anthelmintic agent, for the treatment of cough, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, wounds, ulcer, gout, and rheumatism.
+ Studies in Modern medicine
Momordica charantia has a number of purported uses including cancer prevention, treatment of diabetes, fever, HIV and AIDS, and infections. While it has shown some potential clinical activity in laboratory experiments, "further studies are required to recommend its use". In 2012, the germplasm and chemical constituents, such as momordicin within several varieties of the gourd, were being studied.
For fever reduction and relief of menstrual problems, there is no scientific research to back these claims. For cancer prevention, HIV and AIDS, and treatment of infections, there is preliminary laboratory research, but no clinical studies in humans showing a benefit. In 2017, the University of Peradeniya researchers revealed that bitter gourd seeds can be potentially used to destroy cancer cells and they were successfully administered to patients in Kandy General Hospital Cancer Unit.
With regard to the use of Momordica charantia for diabetes, several animal studies and small-scale human studies have demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect of concentrated bitter melon extracts. In addition, a 2014 review shows evidence that Momordica charantia, when consumed in raw or juice form, can be efficacious in lowering blood glucose levels. However, multiple reviews have found that Momordica charantia does not significantly decrease fasting blood glucose levels or A1c, indicators of blood glucose control, when taken in capsule or tablet form. Momordica charantia may be beneficial in diabetes; however, the effects seem to depend on how it is consumed. More studies need to be performed in order to verify this effect. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center concludes that bitter melon "cannot be recommended as a replacement therapy for insulin or hypoglycemic drugs".
Momordica charantia has a number of purported uses including cancer prevention, treatment of diabetes, fever, HIV and AIDS, and infections. While it has shown some potential clinical activity in laboratory experiments, "further studies are required to recommend its use". In 2012, the germplasm and chemical constituents, such as momordicin within several varieties of the gourd, were being studied.
For fever reduction and relief of menstrual problems, there is no scientific research to back these claims. For cancer prevention, HIV and AIDS, and treatment of infections, there is preliminary laboratory research, but no clinical studies in humans showing a benefit. In 2017, the University of Peradeniya researchers revealed that bitter gourd seeds can be potentially used to destroy cancer cells and they were successfully administered to patients in Kandy General Hospital Cancer Unit.
With regard to the use of Momordica charantia for diabetes, several animal studies and small-scale human studies have demonstrated a hypoglycemic effect of concentrated bitter melon extracts. In addition, a 2014 review shows evidence that Momordica charantia, when consumed in raw or juice form, can be efficacious in lowering blood glucose levels. However, multiple reviews have found that Momordica charantia does not significantly decrease fasting blood glucose levels or A1c, indicators of blood glucose control, when taken in capsule or tablet form. Momordica charantia may be beneficial in diabetes; however, the effects seem to depend on how it is consumed. More studies need to be performed in order to verify this effect. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center concludes that bitter melon "cannot be recommended as a replacement therapy for insulin or hypoglycemic drugs".
Edited by Ho Dinh Hai
Long An - Vietnam
References
1- http://www.worldwidefruits.com
2- http://www.worldwidefruits.com/orders-of-plants.html
3- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitales
4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae
5- http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Cucurbitaceae
6- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitoideae
7- http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/cucurbit.htm
8- http://science.jrank.org/.../Gourd-Family-Cucurbitaceae-Agricultural-species-gourds.html
9- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica
10- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia
Long An - Vietnam
References
1- http://www.worldwidefruits.com
2- http://www.worldwidefruits.com/orders-of-plants.html
3- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitales
4- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae
5- http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Cucurbitaceae
6- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitoideae
7- http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/cucurbit.htm
8- http://science.jrank.org/.../Gourd-Family-Cucurbitaceae-Agricultural-species-gourds.html
9- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica
10- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momordica_charantia
See Video about: Growing Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd (Goya, Squash, Momordica charantia)
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