Cucurbitaceae
Bitter Melon
Momordica charantia
⚠ Use with Caution
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: Tropical Asia, Africa, Caribbean
Also known as: Bitter Gourd, Karela, Balsam Apple, Ampalaya
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
FruitLeafSeed
Therapeutic Uses
Type 2 diabetes (multiple clinical trials — reduces fasting glucose and HbA1c), HIV (MAP30 — in vitro), immune stimulation, digestive complaints, skin infections.
Herbal Actions
Hypoglycemic (insulin-like action), antiviral (MAP30), immunomodulator, antioxidant, antifungal
Active Constituents
Polypeptide-p (plant insulin), charantin (steroidal glycoside — hypoglycemic), vicine, momordicin, flavonoids, ascorbic acid
Preparation Methods
💊 CapsuleJuice☕ Herbal Tea
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | Juice: 30–60ml fresh juice 2x daily. Dried fruit: 1 tsp per 250ml, steep 10 min |
| Tincture | Standardized extract: 100–200mg 3x daily. Fresh juice most potent. |
| Notes | Fresh juice strongest form. Daily use: 2 small bitter melons juiced. Remarkable hypoglycemic effect — monitor blood glucose carefully with antidiabetic medications. Traditional food in Asian cuisine. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
⚠ Use with Caution
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
⚠ Known interactions
Contraindications: Avoid in pregnancy (abortifacient — contains vicine and momordicin). SIGNIFICANT hypoglycemia risk with antidiabetic medications. Avoid with G6PD deficiency (favism risk — contains vicine).
Side Effects: Hypoglycemia (serious if combined with antidiabetics). Abdominal pain. Diarrhea. Headache. Seeds toxic in large amounts.